(information from BBC, Sudan Tribune and www.insightonconflict.org)
Omar al-Bashir
Omar al-Bashir is the current President of Sudan; he came to power in 1989 as the leader of a bloodless military coup.As President, he assigned himself total executive and legislative power, in effect creating an authoritarian dictatorship.
al-Bashir has presided over a number of separate conflicts in his country; the Sudanese civil war was fought by the predominently Arab, Islamic government in Khartoum and the black African South of the country (which is also rich with oil and mineral reserves). The Civil War subsided in 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which allowed for the secession of South Sudan in 2011.
The conflict in Darfur began to emerge in 2003; often described as a genocide, the UN has not recognised it as such though it cannot be denied that sever ethnic cleansing has occurred. The conflict in Darfur led to the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for al-Bashir in 2008, on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
South Sudan Independence
(from www.insightonconflict.org)
In accordance with the CPA a referendum was held on 9 January 2011 to determine whether the South should remain part of Sudan or become independent. A similar referendum was to be held in the disputed border region of Abyei to decide whether it joined the North or South, but this has been postponed due to a failure to reach an agreement on the terms of the referendum.
The result of the 9 January referendum was almost unanimous. Over 99% opted for independence in a ballot which was widely accepted as free and fair. The vote, however, did not address many issues which remain unresolved even today. Border demarcation is particularly problematic as 20% of the new border has not been agreed upon. Tens of thousands of refugees have fled conflict areas and post-independence citizenship complications have become a major issue with an estimated 2 million South Sudanese living in the North. Moreover the logistics of splitting oil revenues and the $38bn national debt have yet to be worked out.
Why is there conflict in South Kordofan?
As well as the referendum for South Sudan, the CPA also included provisions for determining the future of Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, collectively known as the "Three Areas". Abyei is an oil-producing region claimed by both the North and South. South Kordofan and Blue Bile were the front line during the civil was.
The residents of South Kordofan are typically ethnically African (as opposed to the predominently Arab northerners- although the region is predominently Muslim) and they identify much more closely with the culture of South Sudan rather than that of the government of Khartoum. Khartoum is reluctant to let go of South Kordofan however as it is a resource rich state, with large oil and mineral reserves. The Sudan government has instituted a number of political, economic and social measures aimed at slowly eradicating indigenous Nuba culture to ensure South Kordofan remains in the hands of Khartoum. The recent conflict is due to resistance by rebels in South Kordofan who feel the best thing for their state is to leave the state of Sudan and become of South Sudan.
In South Kordofan and Blue Nile, the CPA called for holding “Popular Consultations” over whether the CPA itself was a satisfactory final settlement, or if the peace deal should be renegotiated in these areas. After significant delays these consultations began towards the end of 2010, but it is still not clear how the process should move forward.
Shortly before the South became independent, fighting erupted in South Kordofan as the North ordered all former-SPLA fighters north of the border to give up their weapons. So far ceasefire negotiations have failed to end the violence and many fear fighting could spread into neighbouring Blue Nile or further along the border.
South Kordofan Rebel Group
For a comprehensive account of the history of the Nuba people read Omer M. Shurkian's excellent account for the Sudan Tribune here http://www.sudantribune.com/The-Nuba-A-People-s-Struggle-for,26576
What's next?
The situation is extremely tense and volatile.Conflict has been raging since June 2011 and with the recent bombing of a refugee camp in South Sudan by Khartoum, there is a worry that a larger conflict could emerge and engulf the two countries.
Despite calls for political action against Sudan, the International Community so far has done very little to intervene in the region.
