What's In Blue

Posted Wed 29 Feb 2012

Consultations on Sudan-South Sudan Border

The Council is likely to hold consultations this afternoon (29 February) on the situation along the Sudan-South Sudan border. It appears that a representative from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, possibly its head, Hervé Ladsous, will brief during the consultations. The briefing will likely focus on the 27 February fighting between Sudanese armed forces and rebels from the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement – North in Jau, a disputed area along the border separating Sudan from South Sudan. The rebels claim to have killed 150 Sudanese troops during the fighting, while Sudan has accused South Sudanese military officers of assisting the rebels.

It also appears that some Council members may be interested in a broader discussion of the violence along the border. These members are concerned about the increasing number of incidents in that area. There were two incidents in Jau in recent months: on 14 February South Sudan alleged that Sudanese forces had bombed the area and in early December 2011 apparently there were clashes there between the Sudanese armed forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.

Also following the “informal interactive dialogue” on the situation in Sudan and South Sudan on 27 February with Thabo Mbeki, Chair of the AU High Level Implementation Panel, and Haile Menkerios, UN Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, it seems that there may be interest among some Council members in working on a press statement. Such a press statement would most likely focus on the importance of resolving unfinished CPA issues.

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