NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL - SOURCES OF FRAGILITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 000637

SIPDIS

AIDAC
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AF/EA, DCHA
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
USMISSION UN ROME
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR JMELINE, TSHORTLEY
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KAWC SU
SUBJECT: NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL - SOURCES OF FRAGILITY

REF: a) KHARTOUM 0620, b) KHARTOUM 0452, c) KHARTOUM
2140, d) KHARTOUM 0491

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Summary and Comment
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1. A team of USAID staff and key USAID partners visited
Wau town in Western Bahr el Ghazal State (Ref a) and
Aweil town in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State from February
22 to 26. The trip was part of a series of visits to
areas of USAID Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and
Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/DCHA) programming to
investigate causes of fragility and how USAID/DCHA
programs might reduce the potential for conflict. This
is the second of two cables on the visit and covers
meetings and issues raised in Aweil.


2. Interlocutors in Aweil primarily voiced concern over
the large number of Rezeigat nomads entering the state
with cattle herds. Residents expressed fear that the
nomads are motivated for a potential "land grab" that
could destabilize the area. Returnees face challenges
related to essential services and resolution of conflicts
with host populations.


3. Support to Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS)
officials at the state, county, and village levels is
imperative. Development partners should urge the GoSS in
Juba to disburse funds quickly to state and county
governments, so that local authorities can undertake
projects that directly and visibly improve people's
lives. USAID should continue a community-based approach
to the provision of essential services, focusing on the
most vulnerable war-affected populations, regardless of
their status (displaced, returnee, or resident). USAID
should also continue to support local peace and
reconciliation efforts, including those that address
nomad-farmer relations, in Bahr el Ghazal and elsewhere
in Southern Sudan. End summary and comment.

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Background
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4. From February 22 to 26, USAID representatives and key
partners visited Aweil town, the capital of Northern Bahr
El Ghazal State, to investigate how USAID programs might
reduce the potential for conflict and promote a
stabilizing environment to support the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement (CPA). The USAID team included
USAID/Khartoum's internally displaced persons (IDP)
returnee specialist, an Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance (USAID/OFDA) southern sector program officer,
the Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI) southern
sector team leader, and an education specialist. Three
staff from USAID/OTI partner Development Alternatives,
Inc. (DAI),and one representative from USAID partner
Pact, Inc., also participated in the visits. USAID/DCHA
is supporting a number of NGOs and U.N. agencies in
Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

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Aweil Town Meetings
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5. The USAID team held numerous meetings with NGO
implementing partners from Aweil town, Aweil West
(Nyamlel),and Aweil East (Malual Kon and Warawar); U.N.
partners; and GoSS officials to discuss the potential for
conflict and factors affecting stability in Northern Bahr
El Ghazal. On February 25, the USAID team held a general
meeting in Aweil town for 40 participants at the compound
of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA). Participants in the general meeting
included GoSS officials from the Sudan Relief and
Rehabilitation Commission (SRRC); representatives from
USAID partner organizations, such as Concern Worldwide,
Pact, International Rescue Committee, Tearfund, and World
Vision; and representatives from non-USAID funded NGOs
such as Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF),Cordaid, the
Diocese of Rumbek, and U.N. agencies.

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6. As in Wau town, Arabic remains the dominant language
of commerce in Aweil town. Like Wau, Aweil town still
has the feel of a "northern" town, and Aweil also appears
to lean more toward Khartoum than to Juba for
transportation, commerce, and services.

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Sources of Fragility
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7. Migration of armed nomads: Interlocutors reported
that armed Rezeigat nomads and their cattle entered Aweil
West and Aweil North Counties allegedly without
traditional negotiations. The SRRC State Secretary and
others regard this as an organized effort politicized and
supported financially from Khartoum to occupy land in
Northern Bahr el Ghazal. The SRRC State Secretary
emphatically stated that he believed this was an effort
not only to grab land, but also to "Islamicize"
southerners. The persistent fear of nomads voiced in
Bahr el Ghazal (Reftel B),Abyei County (Reftel C),Unity
State (Reftel D),and other areas that border nomad
migratory routes is understandable. The GoSS has little
capacity to address the issue, and shrinking resources in
the north and the growing size of herds is putting
pressure on land in the south.


8. Limited resources: The recent arrival of IDPs from
South Darfur and returnees from the north could overwhelm
the already extremely limited essential services. Aweil
town is suffering from a long-lasting water and
sanitation problem that will be exacerbated during the
rainy season and compounded by the growing urban
population. The severe drought resulting in less locally
available food could trigger conflict over limited food
supply.


9. IDP returns: Returnees are arriving in large numbers
to the state with no support provided en route. The
International Organization for Migration has agreed with
local authorities to put a way station in Warawar, a key
entry point for those coming from the north, but the
monitoring and tracking system in the state is still not
in place. To date, only 2,100 returnees have been
registered in town, although the number is believed to be
much higher. An accurate number will be important to
prepare for reintegration packages and to ensure that
communities receiving the IDPs are also assisted. To
date, there has been no humanitarian crisis linked to the
IDPs that have already returned.


10. Grievance, revenge, and ethnic issues: Such issues
continue to simmer and burn. Peace and reconciliation
efforts should the number one priority. (Note: Recently
in Akuem, despite a shortage of qualified medical
workers, Dinka chased out qualified Equatorians applying
for jobs with MSF, still furious over the killing of
Dinka in Equatoria earlier this year. End note.)


11. Burning of markets: Interlocutors reported that 12
"non-Arab" markets in Northern Bahr el Ghazal have been
burned during the past year. This arson is believed
widely to be perpetrated by people with political motives
encouraged by "Khartoum."


12. Weak GoSS and traditional court capacity: The
capacity of the GoSS in Aweil town is limited, and it is
unable to meet or manage the expectations of the people.
Traditional conflict resolution systems (traditional
courts) have been disempowered during the war and need
some limited support to become effective again.


13. Slow progress in implementing the CPA: This is a
major concern throughout Southern Sudan, and it was
obvious that the average citizen understands very little
about the CPA.


14. Small arms proliferation: The proliferation of
small arms continues despite a civilian disarmament
campaign.


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15. Alcohol-related problems: Alcohol abuse and
resulting conflict is increasing.

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Recommendations
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16. Traditional leaders and courts need assistance in
dealing with inter-tribal matters, such as relations with
the Rezeigat, and other issues that involve land use,
water, and migration routes for cattle.


17. Provision of water and sanitation services should be
a high priority for the GoSS and donors, in addition to
other basic services. An equitable, community-based
approach should drive the provision of assistance,
prioritizing the most vulnerable populations regardless
of their status. To the extent possible, essential
services should be established in rural areas to prevent
returnees from overwhelming Aweil town.


18. Standing up an accountable GoSS state government
system is critical. Southern Sudanese need to have
confidence in the ability of their government to meet the
needs of the people. GoSS ministries should replace NGOs
as service providers as soon as possible. The GoSS must
incorporate traditional authority into new governing
structures.


19. The general public does not understand the how the
GoSS system works. Dissemination of the CPA as well as
an explanation of the GoSS administrative system is
necessary.


20. The registration of Sudan People's Liberation Army
soldiers, in order to effect payment, should be an urgent
priority for supporting peace and stability. The first
phase of the Disarmament, Demobilization, and
Reintegration program is focusing on registration of
child soldiers, women associated with armed groups, and
the disabled. Some individual disarmament is occurring
in some states with weapons being cantoned for later
demobilization.


21. Grievances and revenge issues between groups need to
be confronted and addressed through reconciliation, rule
of law, and traditional conflict resolution mechanisms.

WHITAKER