WORLD BRIDGE BLOG

Five years after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and less than a year away from the referendum on southern independence, the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) still needs to make substantial progress in reforming the security sector and its ability to protect civilians. The pastoralist and farming communities of Sudan have a history of conflict with one another due to competition for grazing land and water for their cattle. And the rampant proliferation of arms into south Sudan has transformed what were once fairly predictable and rudimentary encounters into serious turf battles resulting in large scale civilian casualties and displacement.

Though a great deal of focus has been placed on the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in regards to civilian protection, the GOSS is ultimately responsible for the protection of people in its territory. Real stability can only be reached with reform to the state’s police and judicial system. Because of shortfalls in police capability the Southern People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has been tasked with the role of policing. Made up of former rebel combatants, the SPLA is under resourced, under trained, insufficiently paid, and lacking in overall discipline.

Since the civil war, the SPLA has dealt with its lack of resources by soliciting community support. Unfortunately, as the extent and effectiveness of the SPLA’s protection capabilities wane and the battle for resources increases in the south, communities are becoming more reluctant to share what little that they have with a force they don’t fully trust.

The SPLA’s demand for resources is also complicating their relationship with humanitarians in some areas, such as Warrap State, where the SPLA has reportedly high-jacked humanitarian vehicles for transport and supplies due to government non-payment of salaries. The irony of all of this is that the SPLA receives roughly 30% of the GOSS’s overall budget- a stark contrast to the amount allocated for basic services and development.

Beyond the gaps in civilian protection, internal disputes within the SPLA/M raise concerns over insecurity in the coming months. The elections and upcoming referendum have long been viewed as a hotbed of contention between the northern and southern ruling parties, especially along the border area, and ethnic and tribal cleavages that have been the source of lower level tension have been politicized. In some states, members of the SPLM have expressed discontent with their party leadership by rejecting party nominees and launching independent campaigns of their own. Because some of the political incumbents and nominees have control of their own military forces, many fear that if the candidates of more powerful supporters lose, there may be a threat to local peace and security.

Within the SPLA, there have been instances where the army has acted on the basis of political or tribal allegiance rather than universal protection of civilians. Reported clashes between the SPLA and communities have in some cases, actually been a conflict between two communities, one of whose fighters happen to be members of the SPLA. Some SPLA soldiers have reportedly even fought with each other because they were loyal to one commander who had a personal conflict with another.

These incidents all highlight the overwhelming gaps in civilian protection and rule of law that can only be solved through an overhaul of the security sector. In addition to ensuring that peacekeepers are adequately resourced in their attempts to maintain stability in key highly volatile areas, the US Administration and other international donors must continue to support the development of the south Sudan police force so that the protection of civilians is fulfilled by the GOSS. In the meantime, pressure must also be applied to the GOSS to ensure that its army and commanders are properly disciplined and operating in accordance with international humanitarian law, and that it sufficiently supports SPLA soldiers during this crucial time.