Developments in the Nuba Mountains

On August 29^th, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) agreed to ban the use of anti-personnel mines and to destroy their stockpile. Secretary-General Yasir Arman of the SPLM-N signed the agreement in Geneva with humanitarian group, Geneva Call.

A few days following this declaration, Arman announced a one-month “unilateral” cease fire to assist those affected by flooding across Sudan. The UN estimated that more than 70,000 homes have been destroyed and more than 300,000 people have been affected by the floods.

On 6^th October, the SPLM-N demanded to talk to the Sudanese government over polio vaccinations for children under 5 years of age in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Since last September, Khartoum has declined to meet the SPLM-N rebels to discuss preparations related to this campaign particularly a cessation of hostilities needed before to reach 147,000 in South Kordofan and 7,000 children in Blue Nile. The Sudanese government said a deal can be reached through indirect talks brokered by the tripartite mechanism. 

In September, the Sudanese Minister of Interior Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamad at a recent event at the International Peace Institute in New York spoke of how he challenged the resilience of the Sudanese people by supervising government crackdowns on protesters and activists. President Bashir’s “right hand man”, Hamad is also responsible for handling negotiations on humanitarian access to civilians residing in DARFUR, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. 

Reverend Andudu Adam Elnail, the Bishop of Kadugli wrote to President Obama last month, urging the US government to intervene and save the lives of those still in the Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile and Darfur regions. In his letter, he said that the country is plagued by “government sponsored crimes against humanity.” The region has been repeatedly bombed for the last 3 months by the Sudanese Armed Forces.

According to Rev. Elnail’s letter, “For the decades my people have been living off the land and providing for themselves despite drought and conflict. Now they face bombings timed specifically so that they are prevented from planting their crops and tending to their fields. Adults go hungry so that their children can. But many continue to die from hunger and diseases. Thousands of children are living in caves in the mountains without education. People are living under siege and in constant fear.”

In early October 2013, General Abdulbagi Girfa announced plans to abandon armed rebellion. Just weeks earlier, the SPLM-N and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) threatened to intensify their attacks against the government if it continued its crackdown on peaceful protesters. The head of the Nuba Mountains Front decided to engage in dialogue with the government and have engaged in more than 7 meetings with high ranking government officials so far.

The aims of these meetings and negotiations are to ensure peace and stability and work towards ending conflict in the region.  General Girfa also agreed to a cease all hostilities between the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the government. To supervise the cease fire, a joint military committee was formed from representatives of the government and SPLM-N.

In a show of solidarity by the government, the Sudanese President will issue general pardons for defendants from the Nuba Mountains.