MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Sudan: the situation in Southern Kordofan and the eruption of fighting in Blue Nile State
13.9.2011
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Véronique De Keyser, Ana Gomes, Thijs Berman, Ricardo Cortés Lastra on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0501/2011
B7‑0504/2011
European Parliament resolution on Sudan: the situation in Southern Kordofan and the eruption of fighting in Blue Nile State
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan,
- having regard to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed on 9 January 2005,
- having regard to the Declaration of the African Union of 31 January 2011,
- having regard to the declaration by the EU and its Member States on 9 July 2011 on the Republic of South Sudan's independence,
- having regard to the declaration of 6 September 2011 by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton on the eruption of fighting in Blue Nile State and of 26 August 2011 on the situation in South Kordofan,
- having regard to the results of the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of 20 June 2011,
- having regard to the Statement of 26 August 2011 by Commissioner Georgieva on humanitarian access to South Kordofan,
- having regard to the African Union Statement of 20 August 2011 on the Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan on the Border Monitoring Support Mission,
- having regard to the Framework Agreement on the Political and Security arrangements in the Blue Nile and Kordofan States signed on 28 June 2011,
- having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the situation in South Kordofan remains tense with fighting between
Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement- North (SPLMNorth) and with renewed fighting also erupting in the Blue Nile State,
B. whereas on 23 August 2011, President Bashir announced a unilateral two week ceasefire in South Kordofan but also announced that no foreign organizations would be allowed to operate in the region,
C whereas on 2 September 2011, President Bashir announced the suspension of the interim Constitution in the Blue Nile State and the establishment of a State of emergency allowing Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) to arbitrarily arrest and try anyone perceive to be affiliated with the SPLM,
D whereas attacks perpetrated in South Kordofan against civilians include targeted summary and extrajudicial killings, mostly of perceived SPLM supporters, arbitrary arrests and detentions with concerns that detainees may be subjected to acts of torture and other inhuman and degrading treatments, house-to-house searches, enforced disappearances, destruction of churches and looting,
E. whereas over 200,000 people are estimated to have been displaced or severely affected by the recent fighting and 5,000 people have entered South Sudan (Unity state) to flee the conflict,
F. whereas despite the ceasefire Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) are indiscriminately bombing civilian areas in the Nuba Mountains region of Southern Kordofan and preventing aid from reaching displaced people,
G. whereas humanitarian agencies have not been able to obtain the authorization to work in South Kordofan since the conflict broke out in June 2011 and needs assessments have not been carried out,
H. whereas South Sudanese security forces have been reported to interfere with the work of humanitarian organizations including commandeering of vehicles, physical assault of relief workers and raiding of compounds of international organizations including the UN,
I. whereas a large part of the population in the region remain food insecure, a situation which has been aggravated by the conflict, rising commodity prices and famine in the Horn of Africa,
J. whereas the Commission has allocated €100 million in 2011 including €11 million for the Transitional Areas, but the International South Sudan Appeal is still only 37% financed,
K. whereas there has been little progress on aspects of the CPA to find agreement in post-referendum negotiations on issues such as the sharing of oil revenue, border demarcation, citizenship and the division of debts and assets,
L. whereas the situation in Darfur remains a great source of concern with the UN Mission in Darfur reporting harassment, kidnappings and general security threats, by Central Reserve Police in IDP camps,
1. Deplores the loss of life, violence, human rights abuses and the lack of humanitarian access in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states; urges all parties to immediately cease fighting and seek a political solution based on the agreement of 28 June 2011; further, calls for the removal of the state of emergency in the Blue Nile State;
2. Reminds all parties of their obligations to respect international humanitarian and human rights law; demands, in particular, a halt to targeted summary and extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture, enforced disappearances and looting; demands, furthermore, a halt to Sudan’s indiscriminate aerial bombings and stresses that those found responsible for any violations must be held accountable through an independent investigation;
3. Demands that all sides allow humanitarian agencies to have immediate, unhindered access to all those in need free from intimidation and violence; firmly underlines the obligation to protect civilians and humanitarian workers;
4. Calls on the Commission, EU Member States and the International Community to honour their funding commitments to the region in particularly to address severe shortages in food aid, emergency shelter and protection; calls for close attention to the food security situation and measures to be put in place should the situation worsen;
5. Welcomes the African Union brokered deal of 8 September 2011, in which both sides agreed to pull forces out of the disputed area of Abyei; urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to engage in political dialogue on all the remaining unresolved issues of the CPA; reiterates the EU's commitments to engage with Sudan and South Sudan to help democratic governance and respect for human rights for all Sudanese people;
6. Is highly concerned about the reported increased use of land mines in the region; recalls its firm opposition to the use of mining and demands such activity stops immediately;
7. Deplores the continuing high level of violence in Darfur against civilians and aid workers; calls for constructive dialogue to continue for a peaceful solution on the status of Abyei within the framework of the CPA;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the UN Security Council and Secretary-General and the EU Special Representative to South Sudan, the Government of Sudan, the Government of South Sudan, the African Union institutions and the Chair of the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan, the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly and the governments of the EU Member States.