Key Developments
- Under the co-chairmanship of Messrs
Yahya Hussein and Nihal Deng Nihal, the Joint National Transitional Team
(JNTT) held a meeting with observers (UN, World Bank, AU, Italy, the Netherlands,
Norway, UK, USA, and the EC) today in Khartoum. The meeting included
a briefing on the implementation of the CPA and discussions on the status
of pledges from the Oslo donors' conference and the new Sudanese currency.
- The Ceasefire Joint Military Committee
(CJMC) met again today in Juba under the chairmanship of Deputy Force Commander
Mitchell. The agenda included issues such as nominations of monitoring
team members, the provision of permanent liaison officers to the Joint
Monitoring and Coordination Office (JMCO), the deployment of Bailey Bridges
on the Juba-Yei road and progress reports on key issues like location,
size and composition of forces. The next meeting of the CJMC is scheduled
for 5 July.
Security Issues
Eastern Sudan
On 19 June, elements of the Eastern Front rebel movement conducted a hit and run attack on GoS military posts near the town of Tokar, roughly 120 km south of Port Sudan. Confirmed casualty figures are unavailable, but reports indicate that the rebels held one position for a couple of hours before withdrawing with roughly 17 prisoners. GoS claims that it has reinforced its military presence in the area.
Khartoum
On 20 May, the case of the 19 people arrested in the 18 May Soba Aradi incident on charges of violence, disturbing the peace and murder of police officers, commenced in Khartoum.
North Darfur
A WES driver detained by the SLA since 18 Mar. was finally released on 20 June following an intervention by UNICEF.
South Sudan
On 13 June, Murle tribesmen reportedly attacked Anyide village, which is roughly 24 km east of Bor, in Jonglei State. Apparently, it was a tribal conflict in which three people were killed and five injured.
On 12 June, in Kiyala village (approx. 36 km east of Torit), one villager was shot dead at the gate of his stable by unknown armed person.
On 15 June, on Kajokeji road (approx. 30 km south of Juba), a GoS Army soldier triggered an anti-personal landmine. The victim was evacuated to the Juba Military Hospital for medical treatment where he died on 16 June 2005.
On 17 June, in Al Batari military camp north of Juba airport, a corporal shot and killed a sergeant. The Police arrested the corporal and later transferred him to military justice.
Protection Issues
West Darfur
WFP continues to receive explicit threats from its former beneficiaries in Seleia who are unhappy with food distribution since an INGO recently took over this responsibility from WFP. WFP has reportedly been told not to cross Seleia, so it is now using alternative routes to deliver food to areas north of the locality.
Staff of a medical INGO in Sisi camp have received threats from IDPs who are disgruntled by the re-registration process. As yet, the INGO has not stopped its programmes.
No food has been distributed to IDPs in Abu Suruj camp since late April due to security problems related to the re-registration exercise. WFP has food at the site and its implementing partner has a team of 25 people ready once security conditions permit food distribution.
South Darfur
The information campaign to IDPs in Kalma for a partial relocation to the new Al Salam camp started on 20 June, and met with mixed but overall satisfactory reactions.
Political Affairs
In Abuja yesterday, the African Union (AU) continued to urge the Sudanese rebels to accept Chad as co- mediator between them and the Sudanese Government. A senior AU official told reporters that he is optimistic that, with the intervention of AU chairman President Obasanjo, the standoff over Chad will be resolved. Consultations are expected to continue today between the mediation team, the partners, observers, facilitators and the warring parties.
Civil Affairs
In a meeting with the Minister of Housing and Planning in Nyala, UNMIS learned that the Native Administration, Farmers Union, and Pastoralist Union, have all agreed to the proposals of the State Committee for reopening of livestock migration routes, and that local tribal leaders will be members of the Committee when it visits their respective localities. The Minister explained that slight amendments have been to well known corridors, increasing the width of their tracks from 90 metres to 150 metres. This is important due to the increase in the number of livestock, and the expansion of agricultural activities at the expense of grazing land. Moreover, the opening of an additional three corridors has been coordinated with the rebels and the AU and animals will be able to pass unobstructed through rebel controlled areas. However, coordination with the AU in other areas is still lacking, and could be a major obstacle for orderly migration of large numbers of animals in the coming few weeks.
Humanitarian Affairs
Health
West Darfur
- COSV established nine health centres in the Kulbus area.
- An INGO reported 13 cases of measles in Garsila, while the MoH identified more cases in IDP locations. A request by the INGO to undertake a mass measles campaign was refused by the director of the MoH.
South Darfur
The WHO Mortality Survey was finalized, despite that only 75% of the planned clusters were covered due to ongoing security problems.