Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 21:32:59 +0100
In Abyei, S. Sudan Has 660 Soldiers, Sudan 150 Oil Personnel, Violations
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 26, 2014 -- The UN's new report on Abyei, to become
public under symbol S/2014/126, paints a picture of widespread violations by
both Sudan and South Sudan, in the shadow of the crisis in the latter.
From South Sudan, the UN report says its all-Ethiopia UNISFA mission in
Abyei "observed the presence around 660 military elements of the SPLA and
South Sudan National Police Service... armed with AK-47 rifles and anti-tank
rocket propelled grenades; many of them have established military-type
settlements, including fire trenches."
This of course violates the June 2011 agreement; the UN adds that it
"poses security risks to Misseriya nomads migrating through the area."
Sudan, on the other hand, is reported also violate the agreement: "Sudan
oil police continued to maintain approximately 120 to 150 personnel inside
the Diffra oil complex in northern Abyei... about 30 Sudan oil personnel
were observed in the vicinity of the Beer Adrak oil pump station and in
Mekines, outside their usual area of deployment in the Diffra oil complex."
What now?
The last time the UN Security Council considered Abyei, back on November
25, 2013, Sudan's and South Sudan's ambassadors traded speeches about Abyei
in the Council, and things got personal.
While the Security Council urged against the unilateral referendum held in
Abyei, South Sudan's Francis Deng on Monday praised it. He said the Miseriya
had been out of the area "in their own homeland" 125 miles away when the
referendum was held.
Inner City Press has previously reported that Deng's family comes from
Abyei <http://www.innercitypress.com/ban1dengs021011.html> , and has
questioned if he owns property there. It makes for a more dramatic story.
Sudan's Permanent Representative Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman took the floor
to say Deng's speech was against the current tenor between Khartoum and
Juba, and was based on "personal interests" and not the interests of the
whole of South Sudan.
It's rare these days at the UN for arguments to turn personal in this way.
Relatedly, some in the Council note that soon after Ambassador Susan Rice
was promoted to Washington, there were no more twice a month meetings on
Sudan and South Sudan. In fairness we report that others say that's a
coincidence. Like Deng's personal story? Both are compelling.
Now on February 26, Daffa-Alla has moved on from his posting in New York,
and it is reported that Francis Deng has been recalled to Juba. Watch this
site.
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On S. Sudan UN Says It Wants Uganda "Phased Withdrawal
<http://www.innercitypress.com/ssudan1unugkiir022014.html>
http://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png," Told Kiir?
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 20 -- On Ugandan troops in South Sudan, the day
after the US State Department told
<http://www.innercitypress.com/dosharf1sscar021914.html> Inner City Press
"it's time for those forces to begin a phased withdrawal
<http://www.innercitypress.com/dosharf1sscar021914.html> ," the UN through
outgoing spokesperson Martin Nesirky said the same: Yes, it's time for the
Ugandans to leave.
Citing a photograph of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on a tank on the
South Sudan border before flying to Juba, Inner City Press asked if UN envoy
Hilde Johnson, historically close with the SPLA of Salva Kiir, has conveyed
this position to Kiir.
I imagine so, Nesirky said then added that he will check. Later his
Office provided an update to Inner City Press, not on this issue but two
previously asked about:
Subject: Your questions on South Sudan
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Feb 20, 2014 at 2:46 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
On your question from the Tuesday briefing on Bentiu, the UN Mission in
South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS)
personnel are working in Bentiu and other parts of Unity State to clear
landmines and unexploded ordnance. There is no evidence of any use of
cluster bombs in Bentiu or in any part of Unity State.
On your question about cluster bombs, UNMAS has evidence that cluster bombs
were used along the Juba-Bor road, but cannot determine at this time who
used them.
On UN Mine Action Service, we anticipate having more.
On February 19 when the State Department's deputy spokesperson Marie Harf
held a press briefing by phone from the Iran P5+1 talks in Vienna on
February 19, Inner City Press asked her for the US' position on the Ugandan
army remaining, and about the reports of cluster bombs. Transcript below.
Harf replied that the call for "the redeployment or phased withdrawal of
foreign forces" from South Sudan" was tied to the cessation of hostilities
agreement that had been signed in Addis Ababa.
That agreement is widely described as in tatters, or no longer relevant.
Harf said "we have recognized the role the Ugandan forces have played."
Still Harf said the US position remains they should "begin" phased
withdrawal: "it's time for those forces to begin a phased withdrawal." She
said she'd seen the cluster bombs reports and would look into what the US is
doing. Ambassador Booth, she said, remains in Addis Ababa.
On February 14 a number of non-governmental organizations including the
International Crisis Group and the International Rescue Committee wrote to
Secretary of State Kerry, as well as to the Office of Management and Budget
<http://www.betterworldcampaign.org/assets/pdf/ngo-letter-on-car-and-south-s
udan.pdf> , requesting "an explicit FY'15 budget request for a UN, or UN
supported, peacekeeping mission in CAR - either under the Contributions for
International Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA) account or under the
Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) account with language calling for assessed
expenses of the CAR mission to be paid out of PKO."
Harf emphasized that the US has airlifted Burundian and Rwanda troops to
the CAR, and is "developing target sanctions" as one option. She said she
wasn't yet aware of the letter -- again, she was in Vienna -- but would
check if it has been received, and what the response is. Watch this site.
Update: here is the US State Department's transcript:
MS. HARF: Yep. Our next question is from Inner City Press, from Matthew
Russell Lee. Go ahead.
Inner City Press: Great. Thanks a lot. This is on South Sudan and also
Central African Republic. On South Sudan, I know that the State Department
back in - I mean, it was February 8th - had called for the redeployment or
progressive withdrawal of the Ugandan forces there. So they pretty much
rejected that, and I wanted to know if there's been any follow-up by the
U.S.
And also, just relatedly, there was a letter from like 26 NGOs -
International Crisis Group, IRC, and others - to Secretary Kerry asking for
reengagement in South Sudan, but specifically asking for the U.S. to favor a
UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic and to include it in its
budget request for 2015. So I don't - is there any reaction to that letter?
What's the U.S. thinking on engagement in the Central African Republic?
Thanks.
MS. HARF: Yep. So let me start with South Sudan. So when we talked about
withdrawal <http://www.innercitypress.com/ssudan1unugkiir022014.html>
http://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png of foreign
forces from South Sudan, that was really, as I'm sure you know, consistent
with language in the cessation of hostilities agreement that both parties
signed last month. We're urging the redeployment or phased withdrawal of
foreign forces invited by either side.
Our concern, obviously, has been primarily focused on ensuring the
implementation of the agreement. We have recognized the role that Ugandan
forces have played in helping defend critical infrastructure in Juba, on one
of the main roads. But we do believe it's time for those forces to begin a
phased withdrawal <http://www.innercitypress.com/ssudan1unugkiir022014.html>
http://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png - again,
consistent with the cessation of hostilities agreement - and more broadly
speaking, think it's critical that all countries in the region play a
positive role in pressing the parties to resolve their disputes peacefully,
and that any regionalization of the conflict could have very serious
consequences.
In terms of where that process stands, I'm happy to check with our team and
with Ambassador Booth on the ground to see what the latest is. Again, we've
said that there have been on both sides in South Sudan violations of the
cessation of hostilities, and we know there is still, quite frankly, a lot
of work to be done there. So if there's more to share, I'm happy to check
with our team and do so.
In terms of the Central African Republic, I am not actually familiar with
that letter that was sent to Secretary Kerry. I'm happy to check in with our
folks and see if we have indeed received it, and what - I'm sure we'll
respond, but what that response might look like. We have, of course, been
deeply concerned by the continued interreligious violence in the CAR, and
call now for the urgent deployment of additional MISCA troops and police to
support the French, the EU, and the MISCA efforts. We think at this point
this is a critical step that must be taken immediately to stem the violence,
which is, of course, so important.
We've been supporting in a number of ways, including airlifting Burundian
and Rwandan troops to Bangui, and we'll continue to transport, equip, and
train additional troops that are identified. We are also developing targeted
sanctions against those who further destabilize the situation, or encourage
or abet the violence. That's something we're looking at right now. Nothing
to announce, but that's certainly one policy option we're developing.
Inner City Press: Great. Thanks a lot. Just on - the letter, I think, was to
the Secretary and also to OMB, and it was dated February 14th.
Just one last thing on South Sudan, if you don't mind, it was this report -
the UN, in fact, said that they found cluster bombs on the road between Juba
and Bor, and there's sort of - what I'm wondering is, this is - the U.S. is
raising it as a concern, and the different types of ordnance elsewhere, but
is this on the U.S.'s radar screen? Is there - who's going to determine who
used them? Some people are saying that they could only have been dropped
from the air, so it kind of narrows the people that could have done it. I'm
wondering, are you aware of that, and is the U.S. concerned or going to
follow up?
MS. HARF: Yeah, I've seen those reports. Let me check with our folks and see
what the latest is on that. Obviously, we would be concerned about that,
suffice to say, but I just want to make sure I have all the details before I
respond further.
Inner City Press: Great. Thanks.
MS. HARF: Thanks, Matthew.
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