Arab League Issue: the Issue of Sudan and South Sudan Student Officer
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Committee: Arab League Issue: The Issue of Sudan and South Sudan Student Officer: Farida Soliman (Arab League President), Malak Wahdan (Arab League Chair) I. Introduction The issue of Sudan and South Sudan is an issue with many aspects, which makes the conflict difficult to solve. The region has been filled with conflict soon after the birth of the new state, South Sudan, and after the split occurred, with disputes and conflicts arising from both the North and the South of Sudan. Following the creation of the new independent state of South Sudan in 2011 tension between the two states increased due to the new territorial disputes arising from the Darfur region, the Abyei region, Heglig, Kafia Kingi and more. Even though in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement a provisional border was outlined and several other issues were cleared up, the region continues to experience instability on a political, social, and economic level with violence breaking out as the conflict drags on. This conflict has not only negatively affected relations between Sudan and South Sudan, it has also affected the civilians in the region as well as the economy of both Sudan and South Sudan with more damage being made in South Sudan due to the heavy dependence on oil revenue, poor infrastructure, as well as the fact that it is a newly created state without a powerful economic foundation. Furthermore the repercussions of the conflict and the effect of the conflict on civilian life has been catastrophic with South Sudan experiencing what is considered the “worst” famine in the world today. In addition to the fact that the conflict which started more than a decade ago has led to a massive increase of IDP’s , refugees, and asylum seekers. II. Key Vocabulary Arbitration: “A legally binding method of resolving disputes outside the courts with only limited opportunity to appeal the result...International arbitration addresses any case or potential dispute between parties, usually located in two different countries.”1 Asylum: “The protection granted by a state to someone who has left their home country as a political refugee.”2 1 "International Arbitration." Practice Area -. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2014. <http://www.chambers- associate.com/Articles/PracticeArea/382>. 2"Define Asylum." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2014. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/asylum>. 1 Buffer Zone: “A neutral zone or area between two potentially hostile nations, designed to prevent any overt acts of aggression.”3 IDPs: “An internally displaced person (IDP) is a person who has been forced to flee his or her home for the same reason as a refugee, but remains in his or her own country and has not crossed an international border. Unlike refugees, IDPs are not protected by international law or eligible to receive many types of aid.”4 Referendum: “A general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision.”5 Sovereignty: “A country’s independent authority and the right to govern itself.”6 III- Involved Countries and Organizations China One of the most important foreign influences in the Sudanese region would be the People’s Republic of China, China has been involved in the Sudanese region long before the split of Sudan and South Sudan. The Chinese government has economic interests in the region as well as military ties with the Sudanese government. Over the past few years of the conflict ties between China and Sudan have been mostly regarding the oil in the region as well as the transfer of arms from the Chinese government to the Sudanese government in order to fuel and maintain the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. “China's need for oil reserves for its growing domestic economy has caused its government to pursue investments in many countries of marginal stability and democracy, but its greatest oil success abroad has been in Sudan”. 7China’s investments in Sudan had started by 1996 as it invested in GNPOC, and by then it was already an arms dealer to numerous Sudanese governments, such as the Nimeiri government. However when the civil war in Sudan escalated in 1990 China’s relations increased with China supplying Sudan with arms, and Sudan supplying China with oil in return. “Weapons deliveries from China to Sudan since 1995 have included ammunition, tanks, helicopters, and fighter aircraft. The SPLA in 1997 overran government garrison towns in the south, and in one town alone, Yei, a Human Rights Watch researcher saw eight Chinese 122 mm towed howitzers, five Chinese-made T-59 tanks, and one Chinese 37 mm anti-aircraft gun abandoned by the government army.” 3 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/buffer+zone 4 http://www.unrefugees.org/site/c.lfIQKSOwFqG/b.4950731/k.A894/What_is_a_refugee.htm 5https://www.google.com.eg/search?q=define+referendum&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en- US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=fflb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=XpLfU8mVN6qI8QfVxYHYDQ 6 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sovereignty 7 http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/sudan1103/26.htm 2 United States of America Much like China, the United States’ interests in the region are heavily dependent on oil. In addition the USA also provides the Sudanese government with military support. However the USA also exerted efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the region by strongly supporting the Peacekeeping Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) as well as sending military and medical support to aid the UNMIS. Furthermore the USA is now seen as a mediator between the two nations by supporting peaceful and democratic negotiations, UN missions and agreements, as well as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees “The main groups of people of concern to UNHCR in Sudan are refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia, who have sought asylum for the last 40 years due to human rights abuse or forced conscription in their countries of origin; Sudanese internally displaced people (IDPs) who moved inside Sudan to escape fighting in Darfur and in the Protocol Areas; and South Sudanese individuals who are at risk of statelessness.”8 “The main groups of people of concern planned for in 2014 under the South Sudan operation are: refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia and Sudan, people at risk of becoming stateless, as well as IDPs and returnees. Some 210,000 refugees have fled the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states in Sudan since 2011. South Sudan provides asylum to 13,600 refugees from the DRC, 6,000 from Ethiopia and 1,600 from the CAR. Pending the implementation of the "Four Freedoms" agreement (a 2012 agreement between Sudan and South Sudan which allows citizens to enjoy freedom of movement, residence, freedom to undertake economic activity and to acquire and dispose of property), the risk of becoming stateless remains high for individuals of mixed Sudanese-South Sudanese origin or belonging to border ethnic groups, as well as for those with long residence in Sudan or other countries.”9 African Union One of the fundamental aims of the African Union (AU) is to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its members. As such, it has closely attentive of the Sudan/ South Sudan conflict, and has undergone multiple efforts aimed at mitigating the situation. “A Commission of Inquiry has been appointed to investigate human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict that broke out in South Sudan in mid-December 2013.”10 8 http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e483b76.html 9 http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4e43cb466.html 10 http://www.peaceau.org/en/article/south-sudan-commission-of-inquiry-established-and-members-appointed 3 Sudan People’s Liberation Movement One of the main parties involved in the Second Sudanese Civil War, which was ended after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed by the SPLM, SPLA (army) and Sudanese Government. Afterwards, the SPLM formed a majority of the semi- autonomous Southern Sudanese Government. When South Sudan became an independent state on the 9th of July, 2011, SPLM became the ruling party of the new republic. Consequent to the ongoing South Sudanese Civil War, the SPLM factionalized further into the SPLM- Juba and SPLM-IO. United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei “The Security Council responded to the urgent situation in Sudan’s Abyei region by establishing the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The Security Council was deeply concerned by the violence, escalating tensions and population displacement. The operation has been tasked with monitoring the flashpoint border between north and south and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, and is authorized to use force in protecting civilians and humanitarian workers in Abyei.”11 United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan “In 2011, the Security Council determined that the situation faced by South Sudan continued to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region and established the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) to consolidate peace and security and to help establish conditions for development. Following the crisis which broke out in South Sudan in December 2013, the Security Council reinforced UNMISS and reprioritized its mandate towards the protection of civilians, human rights monitoring, and support for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.”12 United Nations Mission in the Sudan “The Security Council decided to establish the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) to support implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army on 9 January 2005; and to perform certain functions relating to humanitarian assistance, and protection and promotion of human rights.