International

Concern Regarding Sudan Peace Referendum

Paulina Slagter

The United Nations Security Council officials expressed urgency as the need for Sudan to ensure a referendum on Southern Independence increased because hostilities in the region have intensified. Saturday’s clash between north Sudanese, who are in favor of unity, and south Sudanese attending the rally, ended in police beating southerners who tried to flee the scene. The clash in Khartoum shows rising tensions (add comma) threatening the unity of Sudan and the need to enact the referendum on southern self-determination. This referendum is a result of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the 21-year civil war between the north and the south. A delay in intervention could spawn more violence, which has caused South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir, to request United Nation Peacekeepers to secure the border. The clash is a result of disputed oil fields along the border of north and south Sudan, and although troops have not been sent yet, this possibility is becoming more and more likely. The Security Council has called for all sides to end hostilities, but has not promised to deploy much-needed Peacekeepers to this turbulent area.

• United Nations Security Council: UN’s organization to maintain international peace. Consists of 15 members, 5 with veto power. This council has military power to intervene in order to promote cooperation and global security.
• Referendum: a vote to decide whether Southern Sudan should stay a part of Sudan or not.
• Second Sudanese Civil War: Began in 1983 as a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War (1955-1972). Taking place mostly in Southern Sudan, this conflict is the longest and deadliest war in the 20^th century. The Sudanese Civil War was caused by myriad factors ranging from exploitation of underdeveloped Southern Sudanese regions by the central government, disputes over natural resources such as oil, and ethnic and religious cleavages.
• Self-determination: The right to sovereignty and freedom from outside influence when making decisions regarding one’s state and international political status.
• United Nation Peacekeepers: Peacekeepers are troops made up of citizens from all over the world who are sent to regions of conflict in order to maintain peace by means of implementing peace treaties, upholding ceasefires, and providing a third party to institute cooperation.

Additional Reading:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/10/09/general-ml-un-council-trip_7999778.html

www.bbcworldnews.com

http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/