Area politicians accuse the minister ofignoring the presidential directive andof sending the government official tothe disputed land without adequatesecurity, despite the tensions.

The minister has, for his part, accused thepoliticians of inciting the squatters not tomove off the land, and to attack govern-ment officers and aid workers. He insiststhe squatters had already been allocatedland somewhere else. (IRIN 7 ⁄ 3)

Mali

The UN refugee agency is revisingcontingency for possible new influxesin surrounding countries.

The UNHCR said in a press release(23 ⁄ 3) that it was monitoring develop-ments in Mali following the announce-ment that army soldiers had takencontrol of the country. ‘‘Thus far we arenot seeing new population movementeither inside the country or to neigh-bouring countries, but we continue tofollow the situation closely’’, it said.

A concern for UNHCR is the potentialfor continued political uncertainty tocreate further population movements ata time when there is already consider-able displacement inside and beyondMali’s borders. It said it was revisingcontingency plans to allow it torespond to possible new influxes in sur-rounding countries.

Thousands of people have fled Malisince mid-January, following fightingbetween a rebel movement and Malianforces in the north of the country.Inside Mali, displaced people are livingin difficult conditions in villages andtemporary sites and dependant on thegenerosity of host communities.

In a press release early in the month,UNHCR said the overall number ofpeople who had crossed from Mali intoneighbouring countries stood at closeto 80,000, according to government tal-lies. In addition, the number of inter-nally displaced people within Mali hadbeen revised upward to roughly thesame amount, some 81,000, accordingto government officials and humanitar-ian organizations operating in northernMali. (UNHCR 2,23 ⁄ 3) Refugee and IDP

numbers rise as fighting continues p. 19153

SOUTH SUDAN –SUDANArmies Clash

Disagreements over oil remain thebiggest sticking point between theneighbours.

Fierce clashes have erupted in oil-richborder areas between Sudan and South

Sudan in what has been called the big-gest confrontation since the countriessplit in July 2011. South Sudan Presi-dent Salva Kiir said his forces hadrepulsed a Sudanese assault, and thentaken over the oil fields in the area ofHeglig, which is claimed by both sides.

Sudan denied the claim. It said therewere limited clashes along the borderwith South Sudanese troops.

Sudan state radio said President Omaral-Bashir had put off a planned visit onApril 3rd to South Sudan for a summitwhere the two leaders had been due tohold talks, heralded as a sign ofimproved relations. Both governmentshave been in talks aimed at resolvingpost-independence issues, includingagreements reached on the status of cit-izens of each State and the demarcationof the border.

The nations disagree over severalissues, of which the biggest is oil.According to BBC News online (27 ⁄ 3),South Sudan believes this latest fightingwas triggered by Khartoum, to sabo-tage the talks. Khartoum puts theblame squarely on Juba. One analyst inSudan thought the dimensions thefighting took actually reveals the ten-sions within South Sudan’s politicalelite about how to handle Sudan.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon is deeply concerned aboutthe military clashes in the borderregion, and called on the governmentsto fully respect and implement theagreements they have already reachedon security, border monitoring and thedisputed area of Abyei, Mr. Ban’sspokesperson said in a statement onMarch 26th.

In his statement, Mr. Ban’s spokesper-son said he welcomed the spirit ofcooperation recently shown by the twogovernments in addressing outstandingpost-secession issues, and urged theirHeads of State to meet as planned onApril 3rd.

A spokesman for the South Sudanarmy said the clashes were the biggestconfrontation since independence. Thefighting prompted President Kiir towarn of war. He said on the 26th: ‘‘Itis a war that has been imposed on usagain, but it is [Sudanese] who arelooking for it’’.

The South also reported Khartoum hadattacked the disputed areas of Jau andPan Akuach, and Teshwin inside SouthSudan.

‘‘After repulsing the attack, the SPLA(South Sudan’s army) pursued the with-drawing SAF (Sudanese Armed Forces)force and they captured two bases ofSAF between Heglig and Teshwin,’’SPLA spokesman Philip Aguer said.

‘‘This is a self-defence measure bySPLA to defend itself against aggres-sors,’’ he said.

Aguer said parts of Heglig were nowunder the control of the southern army,a statement denied by Sudan.

Sudan’s army spokesman SawarmiKhalid Saad told state news agencySUNA many SPLA soldiers had beenkilled in the fighting in Heglig. SPLAforces later withdrew towards the bor-der, he added.

According to SUNA, Sudan’s govern-ment spokesman Abdullah Ali Masaraccused South Sudan of attacking Heg-lig with the help of rebels from theDarfur region.

It is clear that the recent optimism cre-ated by negotiations in Addis Ababaand Khartoum has completely col-lapsed. After months of failed negotia-tions, a dispute over oil fees andmutual accusations of backing rebelson each other’s territory it is hoped therecent accords and the April summitwould create a positive atmosphere forgoing forward, says Sudan Tribune (23 ⁄ 3).

On March 13th, the two countriessigned an agreement on issues ofnationality and border demarcationafter days of negotiations in Addis Ab-aba, Ethiopia, PANA reported (14 ⁄ 3).The negotiations were brokered by theAfrican Union’s high-level panel,headed by former South African presi-dent Thabo Mbeki. However, talks onoil revenues and other economic issueswere unsuccessful. The talks endedthree days earlier than scheduled,� AFP reported (13 ⁄ 3).

The UN Security Council had expressedgrave concern in the first week of Marchover reports of renewed cross-borderviolence, and called for a ceasefire in thearea to end the hostilities that havecaused thousands of people to flee theregion and seek safety in South Sudan’sUpper Nile state and western Ethiopia.(Sources as referenced in text) Non-aggres-

sion pact looks shaky p. 19154

IN BRIEFCameroon – Nigeria: The two countries havesigned a bilateral agreement on the establish-ment of a trans-border security committee toaddress insecurity challenges in both coun-tries. (Daily Trust website, Abuja 29 ⁄ 2)Cote d’Ivoire – Liberia: Regional UN envoysand troops are looking to boost securityalong the porous border between the twocountries which has become a hotbed ofmercenary activity. The United Nations Mis-sion in Liberia (UNMIL) said its chief officerMoustapha Soumare had met the UN’s spe-cial representatives for Cote d’Ivoire andWest Africa, Albert Koenders and SaidDjinnit, in Abidjan.

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‘‘The challenges in the border region are wellknown, but now we need to put in place aplan that can be ‘operationalized’ andthereby have a direct impact on the situationon the ground,’’ said Soumare.

A programme of action was drawn up,including added support for national secu-rity agencies. Soumare said border patrolsshould be reinforced and the two missionsand local authorities needed to better co-ordinate their patrols. (� AFP 13 ⁄ 3)Kenya – Somalia: The Kenya DefenceForces (KDF) are preparing to hand overthe responsibility to African Union Missionon Somalia (AMISOM). Col. Cyrus Ogu-na, the Officer In charge of Informationand Operations, said on March 17th Oper-ation Linda Nchi was about to be woundup because AMISOM is taking over (seep. 19205). Oguna said the Kenyan soldiershad driven away Al Shabaab fighters from20 towns and pacified the liberated areasfrom the Al Qaeda-linked militia group.(Nairobi Star 18 ⁄ 3)Some 4,660 troops will join AMISOM. EachKenyan soldier will receive a monthly allow-ance of about Shillings 85,000 besides medi-

cal cover, accommodation, food andevacuation and treatment by the UN in caseof injury in Somalia. Reports indicate KDFdoes not have ‘‘clear policies’’ on compensa-tion for KDF soldiers killed in action. Gen.Julius Karangi said Kenyan troop lossesfrom hostile fire in the five months in Soma-lia stood at 12, adding that KDF’s interven-tion in Somalia had reduced sea piracy offthe Somalia coast. (The Standard website13 ⁄ 3) KDF re-hatted into AMISOMp. 19152

Nigeria – South Africa: South Africa onMarch 15th again apologised to Nigeriabut ruled out the payment of compensa-tion to the 125 Nigerians who were refusedentry to their country for allegedly present-ing fake Yellow Fever vaccination docu-mentation at Johannesburg’s OR TamboInternational Airport and forcefully repatri-ated back to Nigeria on March 2nd. Thedeportation sparked a diplomatic row,calmed only with a public apology by theSouth African government to Nigeria overthe incident. But in what looked like aretaliatory move, Nigeria deported a totalof 131 South Africans who were refusedentry into Nigeria.

A Special envoy of the South African Presi-dent, Jacob Zuma, and South African Minis-ter for Correctional Services, Ms NosiviweMapisa-Nqakula, told journalists after meet-ing with President Goodluck Jonathan inAbuja, that the fact that South Africa hadpublicly and repeatedly apologised to Nige-ria should be enough.

To firm up the reconciliation, the govern-ments of both countries reached a five-pointagreement to end the face-off and prevent arecurrence in future. This came as Nigeria’s360-member House of Representatives askedthe Federal Government to review the coun-try’s relations with South Africa. (PANA10,15 ⁄ 3)Somalia – South Africa: South Africa hasestablished formal diplomatic relations withSomalia and committed Rand100m ($13m)to help the transitional Somali governmentbuild adequate institutions of governance.International Relations and Co-operationMinister Maite Nkoana-Mashabaneexpressed hope that the breakthrough wouldsee the two countries resolve the stand-offover two South Africans who are being heldby pirates. (PANA 14 ⁄ 3)

GOVERNMENTAPPOINTMENTS

COTE D’IVOIREPM Steps Down

As final election results are released,there is a change at the top, but thecabinet remains essentiallyuntouched.

The Prime Minister Guillaume Soroand his government stepped down onMarch 8th as official results were finallyissued for December’s legislative elec-tions, which were swept by the presi-dent’s party.

The final results from the IndependentElectoral Commission confirmed thatPresident Alassane Ouattara’s partyhad won an overall majority in theelection, which was boycotted by themain opposition.

Soro stepped down in a ceremonybroadcast on state television.

‘‘I had great pleasure working withyou. I was also fortunate to work witha competent and determined team,’’ hesaid.

Ouattara’s Rally of Republicans (RDR)party won 138 of the parliament’s 253seats on 54.54% of the vote. Its ally,the Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire

(PDCI) led by former president HenriKonan Bedie, won 86 seats on 34% ofthe vote.

Ouattara paid tribute to Soro, whomhe called his ‘‘young brother’’, sayingthe outgoing prime minister had ‘‘ledCote d’Ivoire to free and transparentelections.’’

Independent candidates won 17 seatson 6.72% of the vote and the electoralcommission said some of them were intalks to join a ruling coalition.

Ouattara and his allies were virtuallyguaranteed a vice-like grip on parlia-ment after the election because of theboycott by the party of his toppledrival Laurent Gbagbo.

Gbagbo is currently awaiting trial atthe International Criminal Court inThe Hague on charges of crimesagainst humanity. His refusal to quitafter his defeat in a November 2010election triggered a conflict that leftaround 3,000 people dead before Ou-attara took power with the support ofUN and French peacekeeping forces inthe west African nation.

The commission gave no results in twoconstituencies because of violence thatmarred the election, which reduced thenumber of seats in parliament from 255to 253.

On March 12th, Soro was electedSpeaker of the national assembly with94% of the votes cast. He was the only

candidate. The position of DeputySpeaker went to female MP, SarahSako Fadiga, also of the ruling party.

The following day, President Ouattaraappointed the former Minister of Jus-tice, Jeannot Ahoussou-Kouadio, PrimeMinister to replace Guillaume Soro. AsDeputy Secretary General in charge oflegal affairs of the PDCI, Ahoussou-Kouadio was the number two man inSoro’s government. He is married withsix children.

In the new government that wasunveiled on March 13th, President Ou-attara took the crucial post of DefenceMinister. Prime Minister JeannotAhoussou-Kouadio will also continueto serve as Justice Minister. (� AFP 8 ⁄ 32012; PANA, Abidjan 12,13 ⁄ 3)

Purification Month: The country hasstarted a month of ‘mourning and puri-fication’ after post-election violence inNovember 2010 left about 3,000 peopledead.

At a ceremony on March 17th, thou-sands of people joined the festivities,presided over by the head of the coun-try’s dialogue, truth and reconciliationcommission, former Prime MinisterCharles Konan Banny.

Traditional chiefs and religious leaders,both Christian and Muslim, called onpeople to mourn the victims of thefighting and for national ‘‘purification’’,evoking the traditions of Ivorian com-munities.

He urged the country to ‘‘turn its backon violence’’ and vowed: ‘‘Never againin Cote d’Ivoire!’’ Acknowledging lin-gering scepticism between the rival

Internal Developments

Internal Developments

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