Key Developments
- The President of the Government of Southern
Sudan (GoSS), Dr John Garang, issued a decree on 18 July appointing ten
caretaker administrators for ten southern states, including Mr. Riek Machar
for Western Equatoria and Clement Wani for Bahr Al-Jabal, and three senior
advisers, including Nhial Deng and Abu John, for the President of GoSS.
In addition, SPLA Cdr Salva Kiir Mayardit was appointed to the office of
the Vice-President of the Government of Southern Sudan.
- Numerous media outlets report that the SLM and JEM rebel movements signed an agreement in Tripoli on 18 July that is intended to end hostilities between their forces and supporters on the ground.
Security Issues
West Darfur
A UN agency reported that two villages were attacked by armed tribesmen in Mukjar locality: Mutar on 23 June and Magan 1 July.
South Darfur
INGO clinics at Kalma camps were broken into on two successive nights (14-15 and 15-16 July). Apparently very little, if anything, was stolen in both cases as guards and near-by residents raised the alarm, which forced the offenders to flee.
On 17 July, there were reports of armed banditry in the surrounding areas of Bulbul and Doneky Diressa, including vehicle theft.
North Darfur
The NGO driver abducted on 11 July in Zam Zam camp was released on 15 July. The vehicle is still missing.
An INGO reported that one of its vehicles travelling with a convoy from El Fasher to Nyala on 16 July was confiscated in the area of Gallab. The driver was allowed to proceed with the rest of the convoy.
On 13 July, armed men stopped a vehicle in Golo, 10 km northwest of El Fasher, beat the occupants and stole the vehicle.
On 17 July, a group of nomads in Hirikula complained of continuous harassment by GoS forces.
UNMIS Military Deployment:
Sector Three (Makalal)
The UNMIS LO accompanied a VMT boat-borne patrol from Malakal along the White Nile. The security situation was reported to be calm. The people were generally aware of the CPA and welcomed the patrol members.
Political Affairs
On 17 July, the GoS Minister of Information and Communications, Abdul Basit Sabdarat, said in a press statement that President Bashir was reviewing the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC) report and that there could be further consultations after he finished his review.
US President Bush on Friday directed the Pentagon to spend US$ 6 million in "commodities and services" to help transport AU troops to the Darfur region. The directive came hours after the US State Department announced that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would visit Sudan and the Darfur region next week. This will be her first trip to Sudan since taking office.
First Vice-President and SPLM/A Chairman Garang on Monday issued a decree dissolving the SPLM/A's leadership council. All members of the leadership council were relieved of their positions except for the elected chairman and deputy chairman of the movement. Garang also dissolved the legislative council, national executive council, regional administrations and the provinces of the SPLM/A. He stated that he had made the move in accordance with the decisions of the national conference of 1994, the decisions of the SPLM/A's National Liberation Council of 1999 and under the framework of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
On 18 July, SLA leader Abdel Wahid Mohammed Nur and JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim Mohamed signed an agreement in Tripoli providing for the "release of prisoners and an immediate end to fighting between the two movements." The agreement also sets up a joint committee charged with "smoothing relations and preventing disputes."
On 18 July, the European Union appointed former Finnish Environment and Development Cooperation Minister, Pekka Haavisto, as the bloc's Special Representative for Sudan. The EU also agreed on additional measures to assist the African Union in tackling the Darfur conflict, including provision of equipment and assets, additional military observers, training of African troops, strategic and tactical transportation, and training of police officers.
Civil Affairs
On 18 July, UNMIS met Sheikh Suleiman Ali Betay, the spiritual leader and effective political controller of Hamish Koreib. The Sheikh welcomed the UN mission in the East and requested the UN to mobilize in Hamish Koreib as quickly as possible to remove mines and ordinance from the area. This was essential for peace to be possible. The Sheikh also said that he wanted all military forces, SPLM, Eastern Front, and GoS to be removed from the area; and the only troops welcomed in the area are UN peacekeepers. He also strongly supported the participation of the UN in the negotiations between the GoS and the Eastern Front. Finally, he said that the UN must assist in the return of IDPs to Hamish Koreib.
On 17 July, UNMIS in Nyala received a letter on the DoP from a previously unknown group called the Islamic Justice Party. The letter explains that the Islamic Justice Party rejects the DoP in its entirety as they were not part of the talks and because the rebels do not represent them or the people of Darfur. The issue of land rights and distribution (Hawakeer) in the DoP is also rejected. The Party also condemns what they call the Mukhtar's Committee for demarcation of livestock migration routes, as it did its work all over South Darfur state, except for Buram locality. Consequently, and in order to enable the nomads to enjoy their rights in seasonal migration, the Party claims that its military branch will take over the responsibility of reopening the migration routes in Buram locality, starting from Bahr El Arab up to Sherria.
On 17 July, UNMIS met representatives from 16 Arab tribes in Nyala. The tribal representatives thanked UNMIS for organizing the meeting, which they said was the first since the start of the conflict, as neither the UN, nor the AU, nor any other organisation that has come to Darfur has ever sought to hear their concerns. They generally agreed that the DoP could be used as a roadmap to address the conflict in Darfur, however, it needed further discussion, with the inclusion of all Darfurians, including Arabs. Moreover, all participants were committed to a fair, transparent and peaceful settlement of the conflict in Darfur. They stressed that they were willing to work on reconciliation with other tribes in the presence of the AU and UNMIS. They also requested the support of the AU, UN and the international community to ensure that Arab Darfurians are fully represented in the Abuja meeting. They insisted that the GoS does not represent them and that any indication that they do is misguided and unfounded. They concluded by saying that they were the majority in Darfur, and that any resolution that does not involve their interest was doomed to fail.
UN Police
Arrangements are in place for a three day seminar at Sector IV Kadugli starting 25 July for Executive Level local police. Ten officers from each side (GoS and SPLM) will attend the seminar. The seminar aims to discuss ways of cooperation, possibilities in police management training, training needs and future plans.
Sector I (Juba) had a meeting with Military CoS and RAO of Juba to discuss the opening of Juba-Yei road which is likely to take place during the second week of Aug. UN police will coordinate with GoS and SPLM police for regulation of traffic on both sides of the bridge.
Humanitarian Affairs
Food/NFIs
North Darfur
UNJLC has provided additional plastic sheeting to cover the extra 500 households who registered for relocation from Abu Shouk to Al-Salaam camp. The move is now expected to be completed by 24 July.
West Darfur
NCA and InterSOS have completed a vector spraying campaign in Um Kher (Wadi Salih).
The three-month blanket travel permit rule issued by HAC Geneina earlier this year for the whole of the state has not been enacted yet by the commissioners in Jebel Marra, Zalingei, Wadi Salih and Mukjar.
Access
South Darfur
HAC blocked this month's food distributions in Otash and Dereig, claiming that IDPs allegedly left out of distribution lists should be included.
Despite months of discussions with, and recent written clarifications from HAC Nyala, MI, NS and HAC officials at Nyala airport continue to request travel permits from humanitarian staff travelling in South Darfur.
North Darfur
Zam Zam camp is currently inaccessible from El Fasher due to heavy rains.
Shelter
Eastern Sudan
Initial assessment mission reports from the Hadalia IDP camp indicate that recent heavy rains caused heavy flooding in the camp. IDPs moved to higher ground west of the highway. Such seasonal moves are said to be normal for civilians in the area.
Health
South Darfur: The polio vaccination campaign in South Darfur is now completed except for a few locations in SLA-held areas of East Jebel Marra. The campaign covered 27 administrative units of South Darfur. The remaining 13 administrative units could not be accessed due to heavy rains. Preliminary reports of the accessed areas indicate a coverage exceeding 94%. In Kalma camp 27,000 children <5 have been vaccinated as opposed to the planned target of 21,000.
North Darfur: In Kabkabiya, recent rains have caused the filling of most wells with river water. Oxfam and WES have increased the number of water tanks as a temporary solution.