ConflictBarometer_2016

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
to international security, the UNSC extended UNISFA's mandate
in May and November and urged the Sudans to resume
peaceful negotiations on the final status of Abyei. Subsequently,
both sides worked on normalizing their bilateral relations.
On January 25, the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir ordered
the withdrawal of the army from the border. He also
agreed on reviving the joint committees between the two
countries to implement the cooperation agreement signed
between the Sudans on 09/27/12. It had previously failed
due to indifferences concerning the cutting of oil transmission
fees to be paid to Sudan for transporting crude oil
through its pipelines. Two days later, Sudan's President Omar
al-Bashir ordered the opening of the border for the first time
since the South's secession.
On February 5, transport and trade through Nile waters between
the Sudanese border city of Kosti and the South's capital
Juba resumed, following four years of closure, two days
after the negotiations on lowering oil transmission fees had
succeeded.
On March 17, the North warned the South against providing
military support to armed groups, thus continuing last year's
policy of trading accusations concerning the respective support
of each other's armed opposition [→ Sudan (SPLM/A-
North / South Kordofan, Blue Nile)]. Subsequently, the Sudanese
government threatened to close its border with South
Sudan again. It also decided to treat South Sudanese nationals
residing in Sudan as foreigners.
South Sudan accused Sudan of dropping twelve and 24
bombs respectively from warplanes on its defensive positions
in Babaneis, east of Renk town, Eastern Nile State, on
March 24 and March 26. Reportedly, they destroyed weapons,
shelters, and killed some livestock. While no fatalities were
reported, the attacks resulted in 1,500 people being displaced.
The Sudanese Army denied the accusations. On
March 29, Sudan re-closed its border. On June 5, Sudan and
South Sudan signed a package of security agreements related
to the re-deployment of joint military forces along the
Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ), which had been established
in a 2012 agreement. They also approved a plan
to stop supporting and harboring armed groups and to open
border crossing points.
At the end of the month, the two governments requested the
AU to launch the demarcation process of their common border.
On August 22, Sudan and South Sudan reached agreements
on security and border issues as well as extending one
on oil transit fees. They decided on reopening their common
border within 21 days.
Both in mid-September and on October 24, al-Bashir threatened
to close the border with South Sudan again as well
as cutting off food aid, much needed in the context of its
neighbor's worsening food situation, unless the South expelled
the armed groups allegedly acting from its territory.
On September 29, the Sudans' Joint Border Commission endorsed
documents regulating the border demarcation process.
On November 24, Kiir directed all his country's security
organs and armed forces to ensure that no groups resided
or operated inside the South's territory. On the sidelines of
the 4th Africa-Arab Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the
Sudans' presidents also agreed to establish direct means of
communication to solve problems the joint committees encountered.
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SUDAN, SOUTH SUDAN (ABYEI)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2011
Conflict parties:
Misseriya vs. Ngok Dinka; Misseriya
Awlad Umran vs. Misseriya Awlad
Saror
Conflict items: subnational predominance, resources
The violent crisis over subnational predominance and resources
between the indigenous Ngok Dinka and the pastoralist
Misseriya as well as various sub sections in the contested
border region of Abyei continued. Since the secession
of South Sudan in 2011, when the status of Abyei had
been left undefined and subject to a future referendum, the
area remained under interim administration by the UNISFA
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mission [→ Sudan – South Sudan]. While Ngok Dinka, inhabiting
Abyei, aimed for the region to join South Sudan
and had conducted a unilateral referendum in 2013, the nomadic
Misseriya, roaming between Abyei and Darfur, preferred
Sudanese administration. While inter-communal violence,
including clashes over cattle raids and land as well as
blood vengeance had been endemic to the region, the situation
intensified in the post-secession period [→ Sudan (intercommunal
violence)]. Fighting had escalated in 2014 with
up to 400 fatalities, but decreased the following year leaving
dozens dead. Both groups had met on 07/10/15. This
had been their first meeting after the Ngok Dinka paramount
chief Kuol Deng Kuol had been assassinated by a Misseriya
in 2013. This year, while inter-ethnic tensions further decreased
admits a ''line of disengagement'' that had been set
up by UNISFA last year, fighting was mostly intra-ethnic.
Throughout the year, UNISFA continued operations to maintain
stability and promote reconciliation. The Misseriyas' traditional
journey northward, beginning with the start of the
rainy season in June, remained largely peaceful this year.
While Misseriya presence in Ngok Dinka inhabited areas led
to incidents of cattle rustling, UNISFA often successfully mediated
the return of cattle. On May 26, leaders of the Ngok
Dinka and the Misseriya held their first official meeting in Sudan's
capital Khartoum to discuss preconditions for peaceful
coexistence.
In June, UNISFA established a joint market in Amiet, north of
Abyei intending to foster trade between the rival groups. The
market, however, was temporarily closed due to renewed incidents
of violence. In July and August, UNISFA helped organize
three meetings between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya leaders
to discuss the market's security situation. An agreement
was reached including the reopening of the market, compensation
payments for prior cases of killings and lootings as well
as the establishment of a joint traditional court.
On April 27, a Ngok Dinka shot dead another Ngok Dinka in
Abyei town. A Misseriya cattle herder stabbed another Misseriya
cattle herder to death close to Tajalei village, on May
10. Another incident of intra-ethnic violence left three Ngok
Dinka dead and one injured on June 10. On September 7,
the rival Misseriya branches Awlad Umran and Awlad Saror