Sudan

Since (including South Sudan, which became independent in 2011) gained independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956, an almost uninterrupted civil war has raged between central government and peoples of the periphery. This has resulted in political instability and inadequate development in various regions.

The Netherlands has an embassy in Khartoum and an embassy office in Juba, South Sudan. Moreover, the Netherlands is host donor of the Joint Donor Office in Juba. The Dutch ambassador in Khartoum is also accredited to South Sudan. Sudan has an embassy in The Hague.

Political situation

North-South In January 2005 a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed by the Sudanese government and the South Sudanese Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). The CPA ended a period of civil war which claimed the lives of two million people and displaced a further four million. The CPA sets out agreements on self-determination for the South, security, and the division of political control and income from oil and other resources. In April 2010 Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party won the national elections. In January 2011 an overwhelming majority of the people of South Sudan opted for independence, which officially came into effect on 9 July 2011.

The CPA has separate protocols for the disputed region, and for the states of and Blue Nile, which share a border with South Sudan. A referendum was envisaged for Abyei in which people would be able to have their say on joining either the north or the south. However, the parties have still to reach agreement on the referendum so it has not yet taken place. In the spring of both 2008 and 2011 fighting broke out between the northern (Sudan People’s Armed Forces, SAF) and southern armies (SPA). Shortly before South Sudan gained independence the parties signed an interim agreement on Abyei, stating that demilitarisation of the region will be supervised by an Ethiopian force under the UN flag (UNIFSA) until a definitive agreement is reached on Abyei’s status. In June 2011 the parties also signed an interim agreement on demilitarisation of the entire north-south border, to be supervised by international observers from the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), aided by UNIFSA.

The CPA provides for popular consultations on Blue Nile and South Kordofan. These are important in determining the degree of autonomy of these states. In May 2011 elections for the governorship and state parliament – which had previously been postponed – took place in South Kordofan. Following the publication of the definitive result on 4 June 2011 – victory for the serving governor Ahmed Haroun of President Bashir’s National Congress Party – fighting broke out between SAF and SPLA units from South Kordofan. A framework agreement signed by the government and the SPLM North on 29 June 2011 is expected to lead to a ceasefire and a political solution to the conflict. The situation in South Sudan and in the three transitional areas (Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile) remains tense.

Together with partners in the Sudan Contact Group (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, Norway and France), the Netherlands is supporting implementation of agreements made in the CPA. The Contact Group is also supporting UN- AU mediation in the conflict in .

Darfur

Armed conflict between government troops, supported by Arab militias (), and rebels from the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) broke out in the western province of Darfur at the beginning of 2003. The rebel movements were fighting for greater regional power and against marginalisation of the region.

In 2006 the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) was signed by the government of Sudan and one of the SLM factions (led by Minni Minawi). The other SLM faction, led by Abdul Wahid, and the JEM did not sign the agreement. Given that the agreements reached in the DPA have not been fulfilled by the signatories, and are not recognised by the other parties, there is no long-term peace agreement in Darfur. The AU and the UN have made various attempts to mediate since 2006, but it has proved impossible to reach an agreement that has the support of all parties. In July 2008 the UN and the AU appointed the former foreign minister of Burkina Faso, Djibril Yipènè Bassolé, as the new joint chief mediator. Since 2009 Qatar has facilitated negotiations under Bassolé’s lead. They have not, so far, resulted in an inclusive peace agreement. The violence in Darfur has given rise to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates that two and a half million people have been displaced, and 300,000 killed. A large proportion of the population are living in camps for displaced persons. The humanitarian and security situation in these camps, and in large

parts of Darfur, is critical because of continuing violence against humanitarian aid workers and attacks on rebels by government troops.

In July 2007, the UN Security Council decided to deploy a UN and AU peacekeeping force (Resolution 1769). This force, UNAMID, is expected to protect civilians and humanitarian aid workers. Deployment has not been as smooth as hoped; by the end of 2008 only 60% of UNAMID was in place.

In 2005, the UN Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague (Resolution 1593) as it believed war crimes may have been committed by the parties involved. In 2007, the ICC issued arrest warrants for two individuals, but the government of Sudan is refusing to arrest and extradite them. Sudan does not recognise the ICC. In July 2008 the ICC Prosecutor requested the judges to issue an arrest warrant for the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir on charges of , and war crimes committed during the conflict in Darfur. In March 2009 the Pre-Trial Chamber opened investigations into President Bashir and issued an arrest warrant for him. Sudan is still refusing to cooperate with the ICC.

Development Cooperation

As announced in the Letter of 18 March 2011to the House of Representatives presenting the spearheads of development cooperation policy, Sudan will remain on the list of countries with which the Netherlands has a bilateral development relationship. The Netherlands’ ambition for the mid-to-long-term is to contribute to stability and peacebuilding in both Sudan and South Sudan. In pursuing it, the Netherlands is committed to good relations between Sudan and South Sudan, state building in South Sudan, economic development in South Sudan especially in terms of agriculture, water and infrastructure, support for human rights and democratic reforms in Sudan, and reconstruction and humanitarian access in Darfur. Sudan was also flagged as a partner country during the previous government’s term of office. In countries like Sudan that are in the category of fragile states, security problems and instability are an obstacle to poverty reduction and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The Netherlands is keen to contribute to stability, peacebuilding and development in Sudan through an integrated policy focusing on the political situation and on reconstruction and security.

Reconstruction

Sudan is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 154th out of the total of 169 countries listed in the Human Development Index (Human Development report 2010).

In 2010, the Netherlands earmarked more than €54 million for Sudan. Development funds for Sudan are allocated in cooperation with the World Bank, the United Nations and NGOs.

The Netherlands is supporting the reconstruction of South Sudan both bilaterally and together with other donors through contributions to the Multi Donor Trust Fund for South Sudan (MDTF-S). The Netherlands also contributes to the UN’s Sudan Recovery Fund, which will cover the costs of projects relating to the transition from conflict to reconstruction, and to the Capacity Building Trust Fund (CBTF) to strengthen the capacity of the South Sudanese government. Finally, NGOs are working to provide basic necessities through the Basic Services Fund (BSF).

In north Sudan the Netherlands is supporting programmes that aim for the stabilisation and reconstruction (economic and otherwise) of the three transitional areas (Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile) where the security situation remains tense.

Under the cofinancing system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is financing eight alliances of Dutch NGOs which are working with partners in Sudan under the leadership of Cordaid, Hivos, ICCO, IKV-Pax Christi, Oxfam-Novib, War Child, Woord en Daad and ZOA Refugee Care. Through these and other NGOs and the UN, the Netherlands contributes to programmes on human rights, the rule of law and good governance, sustainable economic development and education in the north and in South Sudan.

Security

In 2005, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1590 approving the UNMIS peacekeeping mission in Sudan, which was to ensure that the peace agreements were upheld and that the CPA was implemented once the civil war ended. UNMIS’ mandate expired on 9 July 2011, the day on which the CPA’s interim period ended and South Sudan gained independence. The Netherlands contributed 15 military observers, 15 police trainers and several staff officers.

A combined UN-AU peace mission (UNAMID) is still active in Darfur. The Netherlands contributed funds to UNAMID (and its predecessor, the AMIS peace mission), and provided

training and equipment. Two military advisers were also sent on assignment to support UNAMID.

On 9 July 2011 the UN Security Council decided to set up a UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), initially for one year (Resolution 1996). UNMISS will assist the South Sudanese government and advise it on protecting civilians and building the new state of South Sudan.

On 27 June 2011 the UN Security Council agreed the mandate for another mission, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNIFSA) (Resolution 1990). The entire military component of the mission will be supplied by Ethiopia.

Humanitarian aid

The Netherlands earmarks €30 million a year for humanitarian aid in Darfur and South Sudan, channelled through the UN (the Common Humanitarian Fund) and NGOs. We also contribute to international funds that benefit countries including Sudan, such as the Central Humanitarian Fund and the World Food Programme.

The economy

The Sudanese economy grew by 2.6% in 2010. The main source of income is the export of petroleum (to China in particular), followed by the agricultural sector. To limit dependence on oil, both the national government in Khartoum and the autonomous government in Juba are trying to encourage large-scale investment in the agricultural sector.

For the latest information on economic and trade relations please see the NL Agency website (www.agentschapnl.nl/en).

Treaties For up-to-date information on bilateral treaties please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Treaty Database (www.minbuza.nl/en/Key_Topics/Treaties/Search_the_Treaty_Database).