SUDAN: CONFLICT PROFILE
On 9 July 2011 Sudan split in two creating the world’s newest nation – the Republic of South Sudan. South Sudan’s independence was the final stage of a 6 year peace agreement ending decades of civil war. However, peace is not yet guaranteed. Crucial issues such as border demarcation, sharing of debt, and oil revenues and the use of the North’s pipeline remain unresolved. More damaging is the serious rise in food and water prices, the lack of medical care and infrastructure, and poorly functioning economy of the South.
Both countries have significant internal conflicts to deal with. Decades of violence during the North-South civil war followed by a fragile peace agreement mean that legacies of violence remain and numerous localised conflicts continue.
Sudan was ruled under British-Egyptian control between 1899 and1956 until they gained their independence, with Darfur joining the protectorate in 1916. The North and South were kept separate by their Anglo-Egyptian rulers until 1946. During this period the majority of development was focused in the North, with the South and other peripheral regions, including Darfur, were both politically and economically marginalized.
When North and South Sudan were merged in 1946 the majority of political and administrative power was allocated to the North, leaving many in the South resentful. In the lead up to independence in 1956 the South initiated a rebellion motivated by fears of further marginalisation. This conflict was ended by a peace agreement made in 1972.
Yet this fragile peace was soon ruptured by violations of the peace agreement. This conflict lasted 22 years and is estimated to have killed 2 million people and rendered another 4 million homeless. In 2005 the Naivasha Agreement, or Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), was signed by the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the National Congress Party (NCP) in Khartoum, bringing an official end to the conflict. However, trouble continues between the two Sudans, with fresh accusations by each side that the other is supporting rebel groups against their respective governments, causing instability along the border.
In accordance with the CPA a referendum was held on 9 January 2011 to determine whether the South should remain part of Sudan or become independent. The result was almost unanimous. Over 99% opted for independence in a ballot which was widely accepted as free and fair. The vote, however, did not address many issues which remain unresolved even today. Border demarcation is particularly problematic as 20% of the new border has not been agreed upon. Tens of thousands of refugees have fled conflict areas and post-independence citizenship complications have become a major issue with an estimated 2 million South Sudanese living in the North. Moreover the logistics of splitting oil revenues and the $38bn national debt have yet to be worked out.
Now, with separation, Sudan’s conflicts span a yet-to-be-demarcated border between two sovereign states. Despite escalating violence neither side wants a return to all out war.
Progress continues on Darfur where a recent civil society conference in Doha produced a framework agreement which has been accepted by all sides, and at least one rebel group, the Liberation and Justice Movement may be on the verge of signing a peace deal. The SPLM have also started to show signs of opening up the democratic process in the South to opposition groups.
The work of local peacebuilding organisations here is essential. They are able to build grassroots movements for peace and help traditional enemies resist violence. They are able to work in areas international organisations cannot access and are best placed to build peace in their own communities.
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