Minority Rights Group International R E P O R Sudan: T Conflict and minorities LICT AND MINORITIES F CON AN: D SU • 95/3 T TIONAL REPOR AN MRG INTERNA G R M by PETER VERNEY et al SUDAN: CONFLICT AND MINORITIES © Minority Rights Group 1995 Acknowledgements British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Minority Rights Group gratefully acknowledges all organi- A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library zations and individuals who gave financial and other assis- ISBN 1 897693 65 6 tance for this report, including: CAFOD, Christian Aid, ISSN 0305 6252 Church Missionary Society, Danchurchaid, Dutch Published August 1995 Interchurchaid, Methodist Church Overseas Division, Typeset by Brixton Graphics OXFAM, Save the Children, SCIAF, Trocaire. Printed in the UK on bleach-free paper by MFP Design and Print THE AUTHORS PETER VERNEY acted as the coordinating editor on this is author of The Listening Ebony: Moral knowledge, religion report, also contributing several chapters. Peter Verney is and power among the Uduk of Sudan, Clarendon, 1988. the editor of Sudan Update Newsletter – a UK-based inde- Dr M.A. Mohamed Salih – Professor of Social pendent information service on current affairs and human Anthropology, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, rights in Sudan. He is a former staff writer at Sudanow Netherlands – wrote the Southern Korodofan chapter. magazine, Khartoum, and has worked in Sudan for 12 years in education, environment, famine relief and journalism. Dr Abdel Salaam Sidahmed – Visiting Fellow, Middle East Major contributors to the report include: Studies Centre, University of Cambridge – wrote the Beja chapter. Dr Douglas Johnson – Research Fellow, St Antony’s College, Oxford University – wrote the chapter on Child Sara Malet Kuol – researcher for African Rights and former soldiers. He is the author of MRG’s report Southern Sudan, diplomat of the Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs – wrote and of Nuer prophets: A history of prophecy from the Upper the Displaced people and migrants chapter. Nile in the 19th and 20th centuries, Clarendon, 1994. Abdel Salaam Hassan – lawyer and Secretary-General of Dr Wendy James – Lecturer in Social Anthropology, Sudan Human Rights Organization (UK) – wrote the Copts University of Oxford – wrote the Uduk chapter. Dr James chapter. MINORITY RIGHTS GROUP THE PROCESS Minority Rights Group works to secure rights and justice As part of its methodology, MRG conducts regional for ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities. It is dedicated research, identifies issues and commissions reports based to the cause of cooperation and understanding between on its findings. Each author is carefully chosen and all communities. scripts are read by no less than eight independent experts Founded in the 1960s, Minority Rights Group is a small who are knowledgeable about the subject matter. These international non-governmental organization that informs experts are drawn from the minorities about whom the and warns governments, the international community, non- reports are written, and from journalists, academics, governmental organizations and the wider public about the researchers and other human rights agencies. Authors are situation of minorities around the world. This work is based asked to incorporate comments made by these parties. In on the publication of well-researched reports, books and this way, MRG aims to publish accurate, authoritative, well- papers; direct advocacy on behalf of minority rights in balanced reports. international fora; the development of a global network of like-minded organizations and minority communities to collaborate on these issues; and the challenging of prejudice and promotion of public understanding through information and education projects. Minority Rights Group believes that the best hope for a peaceful world lies in identifying and monitoring conflict between communities, advocating preventive measures to avoid the escalation of conflict and encouraging positive action to build trust between majority and minority communities. Minority Rights Group has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and has a worldwide network of partners. Its international headquarters are in London. Legally it is registered both as a charity and as a limited company under the United Kingdom Law with an International Governing Council. Sudanese Shilluk youth with fishing spear. F. SINGER/HUTCHISON Sudan: Conflict and minorities CONTENTS 5 Preface 6 Abbreviations/Chronology 9 Introduction 11 History of the conflict 15 Parliament, parties and militias 18 Impact of the war 21 Women in Sudan 23 Children 24 Displaced people and migrants 26 The Copts 27 The Beja 29 Darfur 32 Southern Kordofan 36 Southern Blue Nile 39 Conclusion 41 Recommendations 42 Notes/Bibliography G R M by PETER VERNEY et al Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Article 7 Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities States should cooperate in order to promote respect for the rights as (Adopted by the UN General Assembly; Resolution 47/135 of 18 set forth in the present Declaration. December 1992) Article 8 Article 1 1. Nothing in this Declaration shall prevent the fulfilment of interna- 1. States shall protect the existence and the national or ethnic, cultural, tional obligations of States in relation to persons belonging to religious and linguistic identity of minorities within their respective minorities. In particular, States shall fulfil in good faith the obliga- territories, and shall encourage conditions for the promotion of that tions and commitments they have assumed under international identity. treaties and agreements to which they are parties. 2. States shall adopt appropriate legislative and other measures to 2. The exercise of the rights as set forth in the present Declaration achieve those ends. shall not prejudice the enjoyment by all persons of universally recog- Article 2 nized human rights and fundamental freedoms. 1. Persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic 3. Measures taken by States in order to ensure the effective enjoyment minorities (hereinafter referred to as persons belonging to minori- of the rights as set forth in the present Declaration shall not prima ties) have the right to enjoy their own culture, to profess and prac- facie be considered contrary to the principle of equality contained in tise their own religion, and to use their own language, in private and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. in public, freely and without interference or any form of discrimina- 4. Nothing in the present Declaration may be construed as permitting tion. any activity contrary to the purposes and principles of the United 2. Persons belonging to minorities have the right to participate effec- Nations, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity and politi- tively in cultural, religious, social, economic and public life. cal independence of States. 3. Persons belonging to minorities have the right to participate effective- Article 9 ly in decisions on the national and, where appropriate, regional level The specialized agencies and other organizations of the United concerning the minority to which they belong or the regions in which Nations system shall contribute to the full realization of the rights they live, in a manner not incompatible with national legislation. and principles as set forth in the present Declaration, within their 4. Persons belonging to minorities have the right to establish and main- respective fields of competence. tain their own associations. 5. Persons belonging to minorities have the right to establish and main- Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial tain, without any discrimination, free and peaceful contacts with Discrimination (1965) other members of their group, with persons belonging to other minorities, as well as contacts across frontiers with citizens of other Article 2 States to whom they are related by national or ethnic, religious or 1. States Parties condemn racial discrimination and undertake to pur- linguistic ties. sue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminat- Article 3 ing racial discrimination in all its forms and promoting 1. Persons belonging to minorities may exercise their rights including understanding among all races, ... those as set forth in this Declaration individually as well as in com- 2. States parties shall, when the circumstances so warrant, take, in the munity with other members of their group, without any discrimina- social, economic cultural and other fields, special and concrete mea- tion. sures to ensure the adequate development and protection of certain 2. No disadvantage shall result for any person belonging to a minority racial groups or individuals belonging to them, for the purpose of as the consequence of the exercise or non-exercise of the rights as guaranteeing them the full and equal enjoyment of human rights set forth in this Declaration. and fundamental freedoms. These measures shall in no case entail as Article 4 a consequence the maintenance of unequal or separate rights for 1. States shall take measures where required to ensure that persons different racial groups after the objectives for which they were taken belonging to minorities may exercise fully and effectively all their have been achieved. human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of 2. States shall take