Sudan (April 1995)

The SPLA and the Umma party signed a formal agreement on 12 December 1994, committing themselves to political cooperation and recognising the right of the South to self-determination.

This high-level opposition agreement is sharply increasing pressure on the NIF Government, and reflects growing regional hostility towards Khartoum. The ‘Declaration of Political Agreement’ between the two parties was apparently drawn up by Eritrean President Isayas Aferworki. Absent, however, were Garang’s rivals.

Reports persist of substantial military aid from the USA to the SPLA which recently received large consignments of ammunition. Interestingly, despite this increasing international pressure, the IMF is reported to be holding discussions with the Sudanese Government concerning future cooperation.

Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) reported in a statement that relief agencies had temporarily moved some staff from Nimule on the border between Sudan and Uganda.

Insecurity continued to disrupt relief activities in northern Bahr el Ghazal. An estimated 500 refugees were reported to be moving daily into northern Uganda because of fresh fighting in Sudan: this compares with a figure of 200 per day in the same period in 1994.

The UN has appealed for US$ 10M to meet the 1995 needs of vulnerable groups in war-torn Sudan. FAO/WFP had forecast that overall 1994 production of sorghum and millet would be a record 85% above the previous year’s production.

It also reports that improved security in southern Sudan has allowed it to move cautiously from relief work towards rehabilitation. However, the mission also warned of the need to anticipate an escalation in the fighting and the consequent need for contingency planning.