Cease Fire – 2006

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Cease Fire – 2006

2006

Intermediate Implementation Intermediate implementation

The First Vice President of Sudan Salva Kiir and the leader of the South Sudan Defense Forces, Major General Paullino Matip, signed the “Juba Declaration on Unity and Integration of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the South Sudan Defense Forces” on 8 January 2006. Most former SSDF commanders had officially declared their allegiance to SPLA, while a minority had decided to be loyal to the SAF. This was part of the ceasefire provisions. The ceasefire provisions also required incorporation of other armed groups into the regular forces of either of the parties or their reintegration into civil service or society to be completed by 9 January 2006. This deadline was not met and therefore, Ceasefire Joint Military Committee extended the deadline until 9 March 2006. The Ceasefire Political Commission met for the first time on 23 February 2006.1

The violence perpetrated by the Ugandan rebel group Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) remained a concern. Similarly, the Upper Nile saw numerous clashes involving other armed groups since the end of 2005.2 A fear of resumption of conflict was expected with the withdrawal of SPLM from East Sudan, as mandated by the ceasefire provisions.3 According to the Ceasefire agreement, the SPLM was said to redeploy its troops in Eastern Sudan to south Sudan. The redeployment took place in observation and monitoring of the UN mission in East Sudan. The UN had deployed 10,000 troops to observe the commitment of the government and the SPLM.4 The UNMIS verified the redeployment of 5,672 troops out of a declared strength of 8,763. The troops unaccounted were considered to have abandoned the SPLA.5 The redeployment of SAF was on schedule. According to the same report, the security mechanisms such as Ceasefire Joint Military Committee and the Area Joint Military Committees were functioning as intended.

In 2006, there were three major clashes reported. In March an unarmed convoy north of Abyei was ambushed, and in August a clash between off-duty SPLA and SFA officers in the Rubkona of Unity State left eight civilians and three soldiers dead. Similarly, heavy fighting between elements of the SFA and SPLA took place in Malakal from 27 to 30 November that left at least 150 people dead, including civilians.6 After the incident, parties agreed to a new ceasefire, a joint investigation was launched and both sides withdrew forces. This suggests the fragile situation on the ground.7

The peace process continued amidst repeated violation of ceasefire provision of the accord. Parties supported integrating other armed groups into existing military structures and to create functioning JIUs. The implementation of the formation of Joint Integrated Unites provision of ceasefire was 18 months behind the schedule. The delay was also partly contributed by the lack of logistical support.8 Similarly, the Ceasefire Political Commission proved unable to solve important issues such as restrictions imposed on UNMIS freedom of movement north of Abyei town and the status of disputed redeployment assembly areas.9

In October and December 2006, movement restrictions imposed on UNMO movement in Abyei in Abyei were lifted temporarily.10

  1. “Report of the Secretary General on the Sudan,” United Nations (S/2006/160), March 14, 2006.
  2. Ibid.
  3. “Roundup: Conflict predicted after SPLM troops pullout from east Sudan,” Xinhua General News Service, January 10, 2006.
  4. “UN to withdraw its mission from Eastern Sudan,” BBC Monitoring Middle East, July 6, 2006.
  5. “Report of the Secretary-General on the Sudan,” United Nations (S/2006/728), September 12, 2006.
  6. “Report of the Secretary General on the Sudan,” United Nations (S/2007/42), January 25, 2007.
  7. Johan Brosché, Sharing Power — Enabling Peace? Evaluating Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement 2005, (Uppsala University: Uppsala, 2009), http://www.pcr.uu.se/digitalAssets/18/18210_Sharing_Power.pdf, 29.
  8. “Report of the Secretary General on the Sudan,” United Nations (S/2007/42), January 25, 2007.
  9. “Report of the Secretary-General on the Sudan,” United Nations (S/2006/728), September 12, 2006.
  10. “The CPA Monitor-Monthly report on the Implementation of the CPA,” UNMIS, February 2009.