OVERVIEW
Almost six months after the secession of South Sudan a number of issues remain unresolved between Sudan and South Sudan, including the sharing of oil revenues, border demarcation, the status of the Abyei region, and the return of people of South Sudanese origin who live in Sudan. Conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States continued throughout the 4th quarter of 2011, displacing thousands of civilians.
There are concerns that the lack of any significant progress on border demarcation may lead to more armed clashes along the border between Sudan and South Sudan. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the army of South Sudan - the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) - clashed in early December in the disputed area of Jaw/White Lake, raising concerns of broader conflict. More than 366,000 people remain either internally displaced or severely affected by the conflicts in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and some 109,000 others have l ed to South Sudan and Ethiopia.
The deployment of Ethiopian peacekeepers under the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) continued and reached 3,801 peacekeepers (90 per cent of the targeted strength) by the end of 2011. SAF continued its presence in the Abyei area, noting that the complete withdrawal of its force will take place when UNISFA deployment reaches full strength and the Abyei joint administration has been established. The majority of people displaced from Abyei are yet to return, and the final resolution of the status of the Abyei area is still to be agreed by the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan. While the two parties met several times for negotiations during the last quarter of 2011, no breakthrough was reached.
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Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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