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Heglig Crisis

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2012 South Sudan–Sudan border conflict
Date26 March 2012 - 31 March
Location
Sudan-South Sudan border
Result South Sudanese Withdrawal; South Sudanese attack on the Heglig oilfield repelled[2]
Belligerents
 South Sudan  Sudan
South Sudan Liberation Army/Movement[1]
Commanders and leaders
Salva Kiir Omar al-Bashir
Casualties and losses
At least three dead[3] Unknown

The 2012 Sudan-South Sudan border conflict was a series of clashes between the militaries of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan between in March 2012 over oil-rich regions between the South Sudanese state of Unity and the Sudanese province of South Kordofan.

Background

South Sudan's independence was preceded by two civil wars, from 1955 to 1972 and from 1983 to 2005, in which 2.5 million people were killed and more than 5 million externally displaced.[4] Relations between the two states have been marked by conflict over the Greater Nile Oil Pipeline and the disputed region of Abyei, even though Sudan was the first state to recognise South Sudan. In January 2012, South Sudan shut down all of its oil fields in a row over the fees Sudan demanded to transit the oil.[4]

In May 2011, it was reported that Sudan had seized control of Abyei, a disputed oil-rich border region, with a force of approximately 5,000 soldiers after three days of clashes with South Sudanese forces.[5] The precipitating factor was an ambush by the South killing 22 northern soldiers. The northern advance included shelling, aerial bombardment and numerous tanks.[6] Initial reports indicated that over 20,000 people fled. The interim South Sudanese government declared this as an "act of war," and the United Nations sent an envoy to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, to intervene.[5] South Sudan says it has withdrawn its forces from Abyei.[7] A deal on militarization was reached on 20 June 2011.[8] The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, consisting of Ethiopian troops were deployed under a UNSC resolution from 27 June 2011.[9] In early December 2011, Jau, a town in Unity state in South Sudan, was occupied by Sudanese forces.[10] In early March 2012, the Sudanese Air Force bombed parts of Pariang.[11]

Both countries accuse the other of supporting rebels on their soil as part of the ongoing internal conflict in Sudan and internal conflict South Sudan.[10]

Events

The Republic of Sudan claimed that South Sudan attacked the Heglig oilfield, located in the Sudanese state of South Kordofan, while South Sudan claims it was acting in self-defence after an attack on its territory.[12] The following day, 27 March, the Sudanese Air Force launched a bombing raid on the Unity oilfield in the South Sudanese state of Unity, located to the north of the state capital, Bentiu.[13] Sudanese forces later attacked the disputed areas of Jau, Pan Akuach, and Teshwin, but were repelled by the South Sudanese Sudan People's Liberation Army.[14]

South Sudanese artillery positions 20 km north of Bentiu, which had been involved in the shelling of Heglig, were bombarded by artillery from the northern side of the border.[15] The Republic of Sudan's Information Minister, Abdallah Ali Masar, confirmed that South Sudanese had penetrated 10 km into Sudanese territory, but also claimed that Sudanese forces had repelled them and driven them back, and had taken several prisoners.[16]

South Sudanese troops were ordered by their government to disengage and withdraw from the disputed area on 28 March.[17][18] Dead bodies and destroyed vehicles lay strewn in Heglig, the oilfield which was the site of bloody battles.[2] Three bodies were identified as Southern Sudanese soldiers, while a tank as well as 4 pickup trucks were destroyed.[19]

On March 31, Sudanese warplanes bombed the Southern forces positions on the border, although officals from the north said it was artillery, not aircraft involved in the attack.[20]

Negotiations

Both states' representatives were at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa and awaiting the arrival of Thabo Mbeki to resolve the dispute through dialogue.[21]

Reactions

File:L-Omar al-Bashir-Alfashir.jpg
The President of the Republic of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, suspended a planned visit to South Sudan after the conflict broke out.

The President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, suggested that the Republic of Sudan was responsible for initiating the conflict, and that further clashes could lead to war: "This morning [the Sudanese] air force came and bombed areas in Unity state. After this intensive bombardment our forces were attacked by [the Sudanese military] and militia." It is a war that has been imposed on us again, but it is [the Sudanese] who are looking for it." The spokesman for the South Sudanese military suggested that the conflict was "the biggest confrontation since independence".[4]

Sudanese national radio announced that the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, would suspend his planned visit to the South Sudanese capital, Juba, as a result of the conflict.[22] A summit between the leaders of the two countries had been planned to be held in Juba some time in April 2012, following on from the meeting of the political, military, and security committee of the African Union on March 30 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A meeting between South Sudan and Sudan on the subject of the disputed region of Abyei scheduled to have been held on 22 March had previously been postponed by Sudan.[23]

A spokesman for Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, called for the two countries to end the conflict and "utilise to the fullest extent existing political and security mechanisms to peacefully address their differences".[24] The President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki, suggested that Kenya could mediate between the two countries, stating "Kenya is keen on good and stable relations between the two countries".[25]

References

  1. ^ http://www.sudantribune.com/S-Sudanese-rebels-claim,42064
  2. ^ a b Wudu, Waakhe (28 March 2012). "Sudan, S.Sudan vow no war after border battles". Google. AFP. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  3. ^ South Sudan troops withdraw from oil area after clashes
  4. ^ a b c Sudan and South Sudan in fierce oil border clashes – BBC News Africa. Published 27 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  5. ^ a b BBC World News (22 May 2011). "Sudan: Abyei seizure by North 'act of war', says South". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ James Copnall, BBC News, 23 May 2011
  7. ^ "North Sudan seizes disputed Abyei, thousands flee". Reuters. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  8. ^ F_404 (2011-06-21). "AU: Agreement on Abyei demilitarization done, more deals in works - People's Daily Online". English.people.com.cn. Retrieved 2011-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ ODS Team. "Ods Home Page" (PDF). Daccess-dds-ny.un.org. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
  10. ^ a b "South Sudan Nhial Deng Nhial: We are on brink of war". BBC New. BBC. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 27 March 20122. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ^ Queenann, Gavriel (2 March 2012). Sudanese Tensions Reach Boiling Point "Sudanese Tensions Reach Boiling Point". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 27 March 2012. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  12. ^ South Sudan says Sudan bombs oil fields in border region – Euro News. Published 27 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  13. ^ S. Sudan, Sudan Clash Along Tense, Disputed Border – Voice of America News. Published 27 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  14. ^ Sudan, South Sudan's Armies in Direct Clashes – Arutz Sheva 7. Published 27 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  15. ^ Manson, Katrina (27 March 2012). "Cross-border violence threatens Sudan deal". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  16. ^ Holland, Hereward; Laessing, Ulf (27 March 2012). "South Sudan oil field "bombed", Sudan says hopes to avert war". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  17. ^ "South Sudan says it pulls back troops from border area after flare-up with Sudan". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  18. ^ Joselow, Gabe (28 March 2012). "South Sudan Pulls Back From Disputed Northern Town". Voice of America. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  19. ^ South Sudan troops withdraw from oil area after clashes
  20. ^ http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFBRE82U0FR20120331
  21. ^ http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/03/2012329162356786632.html
  22. ^ Timberlake, Ian (2012). Sudan denounces South, suspends summit, after border clashes – AFP. Published 27 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  23. ^ Arol Garang, Ngor (2012, Juba). South Sudan blames Khartoum for postponing Abyei meeting – Sudan Tribune. Published 25 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  24. ^ Timberlake, Ian (2012). UN calls for calm in Sudan after clashes – Yahoo! News. Published 27 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  25. ^ Kenya to Mediate for Normal Relations between Sudan, South Sudan – Sudan Vision. Published 27 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.

See also

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