Southern Sudan News Bulletin ______

An Overview of UN Activities in Southern Sudan Published by the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) ______Vol. 4 Issue No.1 January 2009

Highlights: ¾ Thousands flee LRA attacks ¾ Sudan marks fourth CPA anniversary ¾ Former SPLA combatants turned into Prison Services Wardens ¾ Misseriya still in Southern Kordofan ¾ Planning underway for Tri-State Peace Conference ¾ Data compilation for essential services in State completed

. Sector I – Juba Sudan Marks fourth CPA anniversary Thousands flee LRA attacks On January 9, Sudan marked the fourth Thousands of internally displaced persons anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace (IDPs) and refugees fleeing attacks by Agreement (CPA) that ended 21 years of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have conflict between northern and southern poured into State, Sudan in the State capital of prompting Governor Jemma Nunu Kumba to Malakal. The ceremony, which was attended launch a humanitarian appeal for by both the President of the Government of assistance. The displacement follows a joint National (GONU), Omar Al Bashir, and military offensive by Ugandan and the First Vice-President of the GONU, Salva Congolese forces against the LRA that was Kiir, drew thousands of Sudanese to the launched on 14 December. The IDPs and city’s stadium. refugees, most of whom come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), During the celebrations, President Bashir moved into Sudan after LRA attacks on and Vice-President Kiir, who is also their villages killed hundreds and led to the president of the Government of Southern abduction of women, children and even Sudan (GoSS), inaugurated the Malakal men. power plant and water project. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the The UN, non-governmental organizations CPA and pledged to work towards full (NGOs) and the GoSS have stepped up implementation of the agreement. monitoring and assessment missions to facilitate a rapid humanitarian response to communities and Congolese refugees affected by the violence. Refugees and IDPs ______www.unmis.org -1-

Southern Sudan News bulletin January 2009 ______living in areas near the border between acquired knowledge to help promote law northeastern DR Congo and Southern and order in State. Sudan have been receiving food and other types of assistance since mid-September. Gangs continuing to ambush and loot Assessments in the Western Equatoria The Lakes State capital of Rumbek counties of Maridi, Gangura and Yambio and remained generally peaceful during the the counties of Yei and end-of-year holiday period, thanks in part Lainya have been completed, and the to an increased presence and patrol activity findings will be applied to emergency by state police. The state government has response operations in the future. been addressing ongoing issues of insecurity by recruiting and training Parliament passes land bill additional police officers. But despite a A long-awaited land bill has been passed by commitment by government officials to the Southern Sudanese Legislative deploy SPLA units to the area south of the Assembly. Approved on 26 January, the town of Wulu, criminal gangs continue to legislation spells out rules and regulations ambush and loot commercial vehicles affecting land, natural resources and traveling between Lakes State and environmental issues. It requires the destinations such as Juba and Uganda. signature of GoSS President Kiir to become Local administrators also complain that the law. two policemen and three wildlife service officers currently working in the area are Sponsors of the bill hope it will help resolve insufficient to deal with heavily armed numerous land-related conflicts that gangs. continue to claim many lives in Southern Sudan. Other pieces of pending legislation Data Compilation of essential services in the regional parliament include bills in Lakes State completed focusing on government corruption, the The UNMIS Recovery, Return and media, and the Southern Sudanese police, Reintegration (RRR) section has finished prison and wildlife services. compiling data for analysis in the areas of water, health and education in Lakes State. Sector II – Wau RRR believes that the data will provide cumulative support to the state Former SPLA combatants reintegrated government’s own reintegration and into the Southern Sudan Prison recovery planning programs, relevant Services ministries and service delivery agencies. On 29 December, 414 ex-combatants, including 115 women, were reintegrated as Prior to dissemination of the information to prison wardens in the Northern Bahr el key stakeholders, RRR plans to present the Ghazal state capital of Aweil. The new compiled data to the returns and recruits represent the second group of reintegration working group for further former SPLA combatants to be reintegrated study and review. into the Southern Sudan Prison Services in 2008. Former child soldiers reunited with their families in Kuajok Governor Maj. Gen. Paul Malong Awan UNMIS provided road transport for 17 expressed hope that the new graduates, former child soldiers of the SPLA living in who received training on corrections and Sector III to the town of Kuajok, where human rights issues, will use their newly they were reunited with their families.

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UNICEF arranged for their travel from meeting of state ministers and directors Malakal via Rumbek to Wau. However, general chaired by Governor Toor Deng some of the boys refused to get off the bus Mawien took up the matter in Kuajok. upon arrival in Kuajok. Children who were According to an officer at the state Ministry forced to join the military are accustomed of Social Welfare, the assembled officials to receiving a salary, and the recalcitrant decided to dismiss older staff employees as boys apparently were concerned that they well as workers lacking appropriate would not have any funds to assist them in credentials or documents. A list of their reintegration into civilian life. employees who were relieved of their duties has been circulated, and the vacancies will State swears in four new be publicly advertised with an eye towards County Commissioners hiring younger and more qualified On 22 December, the newly appointed personnel. county commissioners for the Greater Tonj area were sworn in by Warrap State The downsizing at the state government Governor Toor Deng Mawien. Deng Ayieny level is believed to be part of the Public succeeds Yol Mayar Mareng in Tonj North Service Reform Program launched by GoSS County, John Mayiik Bath replaces Ireneo President Kiir and his government’s Ministry Yai Mum in Tonj East and Yorniew Kon Bol of Labour, Public Service and Human succeeds Joseph Atem Baak in Tonj South. Resource Development in 2008. That There are unconfirmed reports that Anei program was also included among key Deng has replaced Awet Aken Atem as recommendations and resolutions adopted Commissioner for Twic County. by the sixth Governors’ Forum last October. Individual state governments have been Challenges to peace building initiatives mandated to implement the reform in Lakes program. CA will follow up and report on Civil Affairs (CA) continued discussions with the issue. the Lakes State deputy governor in Rumbek about methods that are being utilized in Planning underway for Tri-State Peace current, state-led peacebuilding initiatives Conference and interventions and how they might be A trilateral peace conference among improved in 2009. The deputy governor Warrap, Lakes and Unity States was expressed his support for approaches that scheduled to take place during the last enable stakeholders to participate actively week of January in the Lakes State town of in resolution proceedings. CA agreed to Yirol. The conference was aiming to bring provide technical and logistical support to together about 100 core stakeholders for state government initiatives. Key short- peace-building efforts in all three states, term challenges include resource-based ranging from their governors and security conflicts during the dry season, the advisors to SPLM secretaries and traditional statewide civilian disarmament process leaders. The conference was expected to amid widespread availability of small arms, review all previous peace resolutions and and localized tensions among various gatherings, including the Wunlit Peace chiefs. Conference of 1999, and devise conflict resolution mechanisms to solve inter-state Staff downsizing in Warrap State disputes, including border tensions. It was Deliberations have begun in Warrap State also expected to discuss the formation of a over reductions in government staffing tri-state border security force. levels for 2009. On 7 January, a high-level

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Inter-agency assessment mission to Warrap State Ministry for Social Welfare Wulu County urged participants to apply what they had On 15 January, an inter-agency mission led learned and improve the protection of by the Humanitarian Coordinator’s Support civilians. But he also expressed regret over Office visited 1,895 IDPs who had fled to the state’s lack of budgetary resources. Wulu town and Domoloto payam [township] following tribal clashes in the nearby bomas Sector III – Malakal [villages] of Wako, Luluny, Majong Madol and Gera. 256 former IDPs return to A barge carrying 256 spontaneous

The mission found that most IDPs were returnees arrived in Bor on 1 January. To staying in school structures and makeshift provide assistance to the returnees, who shelters. The IDPs were estimated to together make up 64 families, UNMIS RRR comprise 132 households in Wulu town and visited the barge in collaboration with the 263 households at Nukta Manga. They are Southern Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation reportedly surviving on small amounts of Commission, the Adventist Development food they brought with them, while others and Relief Agency and the Bor office of the are surviving thanks to the traditional World Food Programme (WFP). They benevolence of fellow tribesmen. conducted a verification exercise on these

returnees on 2 January. A total of 232 The executive director of Wulu County returnees comprising 48 households were reported that the violence was triggered by verified. the theft of 50 head of cattle belonging to an SPLA commander. Reprisals caused the The returnees will receive food assistance deaths of six people. The situation has now from the WFP. Efforts are also being made been brought under control, but the IDPs by the Ministry of Health to are still reluctant to go back to their furnish medical and sanitation assistance to villages. those returnees who are going to settle in the counties of Bor, Twic, and Duk and also Training held for government officials to those who stayed on the barge and were and organized forces in Warrap heading for Juba. RRR in Bor will coordinate UNMIS Protection of Civilians (POC) and monitor their journey from Bor to Juba. organized a training workshop on 15-16 January for Warrap State government Misseriya still in Southern Kordofan ministry officials, SPLA soldiers, and police Field observations conducted by the UNMIS and prison authorities. The participants Civil Affairs section between 21 and 28 were introduced to issues concerning the December in the vicinity of Bentiu in Unity protection of civilians and the primary role State about the expected migration of that the government should play to ensure Misseriya herdsmen into the state suggest that the rights of civilians, especially the that these pastoralists have not yet decided most vulnerable, are respected. to move out of neighboring Southern Kordofan State. The Misseriya have Several concerns related to protection in maintained their position along the border Warrap State were identified, and between Unity and South Kordofan states participants discussed various activities and near Pariang Junction in Unity. Both SPLA interventions they could initiate to promote and SAF units have taken up strategic a safer environment. During the closing positions on opposite sides of the border. ceremony, the director general of the

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Although Misseriya nomads are currently The assessment identified 104 households roaming the area with their cattle in and made up of 355 individuals. All of the around the militarized border, they are refugees were found to possess WFP ration reportedly reluctant to cross into Unity cards. State because they have yet to conclude an agreement with local authorities over the The UNMIS RRR section visited the refugees terms of migration and grazing rights. With at the Presbyterian Church compound in the pastures exhausted and water drying up Malakal. They are mostly youths, children in the streams and ponds on the northern and elderly mothers who are living under side of the border where the nomads are trees with their personal belongings. located, there is an increasing sense of UNHCR is currently organizing emergency urgency among the Misseriya traditional assistance that will include food and non- leaders to open negotiations with local food Items. Blankets for children and authorities in Pariang County. adults have been recommended on account of the cold weather. Civilian boat shot in attack UNMIS POC section met with the Boat UNMIS visits victims of armed bandits

Union in Malakal on 30 December to discuss On 20 December, the UNMIS Human Rights security issues that have hampered the section visited Mayom and Pariang Counties movement of civilians travelling along the in Unity State to obtain testimonies from Sobat River. According to union members, a boat was fired on by an unknown armed villagers who have been victimized by group between Ulang and Doma payams on armed bandits. The villagers also fear for 24 December but no one was injured in the their lives if armed clashes erupt between attack. Union members also said that no the SPLA and armed Misseriya herdsmen subsequent incidents have occurred since who are heading to Mayon and Pariang SPLA troops were deployed in the Sobat Counties in search of green pasture and River corridor. water points for their cattle. In recent POC will monitor the situation and contact times, the SPLA and residents of these local authorities to urge more steps to counties have issued warnings that a joint improve security conditions for civilians armed force would be assembled to halt moving through the Sobat River corridor. any column of Misseriya herdsmen who try to enter Unity State fully armed. Ethiopian refugees arrive in Southern

Sudan Wanding payam handed over to Nasir On 30 December, SSRRC carried out an County inter-agency assessment of displaced The administration of Wanding payam was Ethiopian Anyuak refugees who recently officially handed over from Akobo to abandoned their homes in the vicinity of Luakpiny County on 21 January after a joint Pibor, Jonglei State, and moved to Malakal. visit to the area by commissioners from They were uprooted from their communities Akobo and Luakpiny counties. The transfer by fighting between their own tribe and the of jurisdiction is intended to expedite the Murle tribe. The displaced Anyuak refugees return of people displaced by hostilities who first came to Pibor from Ethiopia in between the Lou and Jikany Nuer ethnic 2004 under the protection of the UN High groups that began in 1994. Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) arrived in Malakal on 22 December. They The Upper Nile State government is are currently living in the compound of the expected to facilitate the voluntary local Presbyterian Church. repatriation of people to the Wanding area,

______www.unmis.org - 5 - Southern Sudan News bulletin January 2009 ______and humanitarian organizations will furnish gunfire and noticed that the nearby village food and other assistance to residents upon of Abanim had been set ablaze, allegedly by their arrival. Over 2,000 people who now some Dinka militiamen. live in Ethiopia could come back home under the UNHCR’s return program. Search efforts are ongoing to locate the six

boys and four girls. Women and children Displaced persons return to Nagdiar from both villages have relocated to the The Upper Nile State government assisted west bank of Lul out of fear of fresh the return of people uprooted by clashes attacks. The UNMIS Child Protection section between members of the Dinka and Shilluk will ask UNICEF and the Upper Nile State ethnic groups to their hometown of Nagdiar. Ministry of Social Development and Welfare

to support the continuing search for the The SSRRC and a number of NGOs will visit children. the community to discuss the possible resumption of their operations in the area. The UN Resident Coordinator’s Support Office is also organizing a mission to Nagdiar to assess the population’s humanitarian needs.

Governor requests support to move weapons

UNMIS Civil Affairs in Bor informed the mission’s Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) officer that Jonglei State Governor Lt. Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk has requested UNMIS to arrange for the aerial shipment of weapons collected in Pibor and Akobo counties to SPLA headquarters in Bor. The Governor made the request because existing security conditions in much of the state make it difficult to safeguard the overland shipment of the arms. This bulletin has been compiled from the following sources: the UN Country Team - Humanitarian Action Search efforts continue for missing Report; RCSO Weekly Report; the WFP Emergency children Report; and UNMIS Sector I, II and III Weekly On 10 January, ten children ranging in age Situation Reports. from four to six years old disappeared from the village of Both in the Fashoda County For more information contact: Antonette Miday payam of Lul. According to the chief of Both [email protected], +256477123138; Felix Leju village, which is inhabited by Shilluk [email protected]; or Taban Kenyi, [email protected]. families, residents panicked and started Visit us at www.unmis.org running in the direction of Malakal and the west bank of Lul payam when they heard

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