South Sudan border wars
by Steve Paterno
September 18, 2011 — The newly established republic of South Sudan happens to border six countries, Sudan in the North, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Central African Republic. Among the challenges the new country is facing is an attempt to properly demarcate its international territorial boundaries. This task is not going to be an easy feat for the new nation, which has to virtually build itself from the ashes of wars and conflicts.
The North-South Sudanese border with Khartoum has already been the point of contentions. In accordance with Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the border supposed to be demarcated during the interim period. However, with the regime in Khartoum dragging its feet, the border is never demarcated. Instead, Khartoum began to wage border wars, starting in Abyei, a vocal point that is in the South, but yet claimed by Khartoum. For the regime in Khartoum, what are at stake in these borders are gateway into natural resources and appetite for hegemony as well as nostalgic dictum that it can never let go in its imaginations. Thus far, the North-South borders remain ever volatile, with potential for explosions.
It is worthy to be noted that with the exception of Ethiopia, South Sudan is the first to have its international boundaries drawn, much earlier than all of the neighboring countries, in 1956; whereas, Democratic Republic of Congo 1960, Chad 1960, Uganda 1962, and Kenya 1964, respectively.
One may expect the South Sudanese well established historical boundaries will be respected and left as it is. Ironically, it is none other than the South Sudanese traditional allies, which are the ones encroaching into the South Sudanese territories. It seems some of the South Sudanese traditional allies are trying to take full advantages of South Sudan ailments; a country that is facing multiple challenges.
For example, Uganda is already encroaching, deep into South Sudan territory. There has already been several borders flares among South Sudanese and Ugandans. One of such serious occurrence is between the Madi tribe of Madi district in Uganda, and Kuku tribe of South Sudan in Central Equatoria State. The tension has been ongoing since South Sudan became an entity in 2005. Since then, lives have been lost, people detained, properties confiscated, and hopes are dashed from both sides of the borders.
A high level meeting into resolving the dispute between Ugandan President Yuweri Museveni and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir yielded into nothing. Now, the issue is left for the local authorities and citizens to fight it out. Rumors of Ugandan ultimatum to drive South Sudanese out of the disputed area is running wild, hence, heightening the tensions. This border dispute with Uganda runs along the border into Kidepo Valley, where at stakes are wildlife and inter tribal cattle rustling. At every opportune of the dispute, the Ugandans take the advantage.
South Sudanese authorities must pay close attention into such disputes. President Yuweri Museveni of Uganda has established himself as a bully on the block. He already caused enough border incursions with the neighbors; Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo, to mention the few. It is time that South Sudanese must warn President Museveni to stop. He cannot pretend to be a friend and at the time when South Sudan is at most need, then he takes the advantage of the miserable situation.
The South Sudanese leaders must refrain their mind sets from the prevalent belief that the only danger the country faces come from the North. Now that the country shares borders with six more other countries, South Sudanese must think of guarding and maintaining its territorial integrity, no matter what cost. That is what it means and takes to be an independent nation.
The North-South borders must be demarcated and secured. The border dispute with Uganda should be resolved. So, is the border dispute with Kenya needs to be settled. Inter tribal cattle rustling across the borders must be stopped once and for all. The issue of rebels and armed movements across the borders such as with the Lord’s Resistance Movement (LRA) must be addressed in serious manner. Otherwise, South Sudan cannot be a viable nation at its current stage, when the leadership is not paying much attention to the issues that affect the country integrity.
Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at [email protected]
Ayuel Bong
South Sudan border wars
Mr. Steve Paterno,you have arisen up the most important issue but our government concentrates on the north border to be its first priority before anything concerns the south border so in my opinion,we could not be in a hurry to settle all the republic of south sudan borders at one time without reminding our loved friends and brothers that we will need a possible settlement resolution concerning our differences of borders of Uganda border and we have the hope that we should get a peaceful resolution.
Garang
South Sudan border wars
Mr. Paterno, social and cultural ties between Madi and Kakwa, and indeed between the rest of the tribes in the two countries are more stronger, mutual and smoother than our ties with our brothers in the middle of the Sudan that is currently expected to witness more fragmentation into smaller entities.Our brothers of the two communities concern in the area of dispute should listen to and respect steps taken by political establishments in the two sisiterly countries. The two commuities should first come out with modalities of avoiding dragging the two nations into a unnecessary war.
The following is a news article published by the UN run Radio in South Sudan, Miraya FM on the dispute you are talking about.It is an official stand similar to the stand of tThe Governmwnt of The Republic of South Sudan.
Uganda calls for calm amid rising tension at Uganda-South Sudan Border
Friday, 16 September 2011 18:48 South Sudan >>>
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A senior official at the Ugandan Consulate in Juba, South Sudan, Migadde Habib, has encouraged communities along the disputed Moyo border line to remain calm as the two countries try to resolve the border dispute.
Migadde was reacting to newspaper reports that that the authorities in Uganda’s Moyo District have issued a 30-day ultimatum ordering all South Sudanese living in Moyo to leave the district.
The border conflict has affected communities in Leforo, Metu, Moyo and Dufile sub-counties.
Ugandan newspapers quote local sources saying the latest dispute was sparked off after armed men from Kajo-Keji in South Sudan raided Eria Parish in Lefori in Moyo district claiming ownership of the customary land.
Eria is located 12 km from the Uganda-Sudan border. But Migadde said both South Sudan and the Ugandan government should strive to create an environment that allows the feuding communities to live in harmony.
Moyo district chairman, Jimmy Vukoni Okudi, has asked the government of Uganda and the international community to intervene by developing clear boundaries between Uganda and South Sudan.
Uganda’s foreign minister is expected in South Sudan in October to discuss the issue of border disputes.
Listen to Migadde
mohammed ali
South Sudan border wars
It is not true that Khartoum was opposing demarcation during the interim period. The contrary was correct. We all remember when Machar was lecturing us about that only 20% of the border remain to demarcated and that even the border between US and Canada is not yet fully demarcated .The SPLA members of the demarcation committee boycotted all meetings and every now and then a member from their side was replaced by a new one in a clear tactics to delay the demarcation process. When President Basheer said that demarcation should come first then referundum , the SPLA insisted that referundum should come first , Salva Kiir was describing it as a “sacred cow”.
This is the truth and what you said was a lie!
Up to now the government of Sudan is calling that the demarcation committe should meet as urgent as possible. An ultimatum was given to the GOSS untill October to start attending the demacation meetings , otherwise the government of Sudan will start to act alone.
It is high time for the GOSS to sit down and stop boycotting the meetings of the demarcation committee. This can be done very easily and peacfully to avoid any further tension.
Steve Paterno
South Sudan border wars
Mohammad Ali,
In essence, you help in making the point that I was driving at: the fact that Khartoum was dragging its foot in border demarcation, they were hopping without clear boundaries, it will be one way as to why South Sudan could not secede. That is why in the last minutes of South Sudan independence, Khartoum last bullet was to give ultimatum and condition that without border demarcation, South Sudan could never secede. And to counter such sinister tactics, SPLM insisted that the secession process must move on, with or without the borders.
I hope you get the point.
Steve Paterno