1

Special Mission to Kutum on 6 September 2012

On 6 September 2012 an integrated team led by Mr. Oumar BA, OIC HoO-SN and consisting of the Police Sector Commander, the OIC Military Sector Commander as well as representatives of OCHA, HRS, CAS and PAD, carried out a one-day mission to Kutum to assess the current security situation in the Kutum area and to discuss with the Team Site Commander, the local authorities and tribal leaders the way forward regarding the ongoing tribal conflict.

As the current situation on the ground did not allow any meetings of the team with the local authorities or tribal leaders, detailed discussions took place with the Team Site members after a briefing by the Team Site Commander, Lt. Col. T. Mashalaba (South Africa) on the developments in Kutum since 1 September (please see attached document). Discussions focused on the following issues:

Actions taken by UNAMID

Eleven WFP and INGO-Goal staff were safely evacuated from Kutum town to the Team Site. Subsequently, WFP picked up their staff from the Team Site while Goal staff were airlifted by UNAMID to El Fasher on 5 September.

Staff of the level 1 clinic of the Team Site went to the incident site and treated the injured locals from Abdul Shakur whose truck and land rover had been attacked by Arab militia in front of the Team Site on 5 September. In that attack, one person was killed and four persons sustained injuries.

After the attack, 27 people took refuge in the Team Site. Of the 16 people who had been treated at the level 1 clinic on 5 September, eight

seriously injured people were evacuated to El Fasher. The remaining patients as well as the 27 people who had taken refuge in the Team

Site were escorted to Kutum town on 5 September. One GoS policeman who had been stabbed at Kassab IDP camp, in a separate

incident on 5 September, was stabilized by UNAMID’s mobile medical team in the camp. He could not be moved to the Team Site due to the curfew (6 p.m. to 7 a.m.) which had been introduced on 5 September. He was later transferred to El Fasher for further treatment.

2

Observations and issues which need urgent attention

Reconciliation: There is an urgent need for inter-community reconciliation between the Arab nomadic community, of which the militia are an integral part, and the non-Arab tribal groups. The recent incidents of violence in Kutum are potently indicative of the fact that the rivalries and inter-ethnic tensions between the two communities have reached a tipping point. Reconciliation is doable but must be preceded by dialogue sessions through which the root causes and core issues at play in those deadly rivalries will be identified, discussed and recognized by the two groups.

Team Site’s current capacities: The Team Site is over stretched in its current tasks and responsibilities. The only hospital in Kutum has been closed, and all humanitarian medical agencies working in Kutum have been relocated to El Fasher. The GoS authorities are not properly involved and rely on UNAMID to do most of the work.

The UNAMID medical teams (the level 1 clinic in Kutum Team Site and the UNAMID’s mobile medical team in Kassab IDP camp) are currently the only ones providing medical services on the ground.

The Team Site does not have the capacity to handle medical services on a large scale. The medical teams are small and cannot provide medical services for a whole locality without support. There are not sufficient rooms, beds or water facilities to cater for many patients or a large group of people inside the Team Site. The level 1 clinic is only capable to handle the Team Site’s personnel.

The medical stocks are depleted as clearance was denied for the South African aircraft bringing new supplies. In view of the recent events, the Team Site is currently working on a list of required medicines which will be sent to Mission HQ.

The number of troops and their equipment might not be sufficient to assume a larger protection responsibility in case the Kutum population or IDPs takes refuge in the Team Site.

The COE vehicles badly need service, including new spare parts, as the shipment of spare parts from South Africa has been delayed. The Team Site Commander, as an interim measure, has requested Mission HQs to provide at least six (and ideally fifteen) pick-up trucks.

As the Kutum market has been closed since 5 September, there is a shortage of food for UNAMID civilian, CIVPOL and Military Observer staff. Furthermore, the Team Site does not have the capability to feed any additional people taking refuge in the Team Site.

Security of UNAMID staff at Team Site: The team site is not MOSS compliant, as the Team Site Commander as well as DSS have pointed out before. There have been several incidents of people, including criminals, invading the Team Site. As mentioned before, on 5 September 2012, 27 locals entered the Team Site from the west side of the camp, where there is no reinforced fence, to take refuge in the Team Site after the attack on 5 September.

The reasons why the Arab militia chose to launch an attack just 300 metres from the Team Site are still unknown. This may be seen as a clear provocation and warning to UNAMID following previous threats by the Arab militia. For example, in July 2012, they threatened to attack the Team Site unless they would receive financial

3

compensation from UNAMID for the alleged killing of 300 of their goats by stray dogs roaming around at the Team Site. They could not provide any evidence but continued threatening the Team Site. According to information received by PAD from the (Arab) State Minster of Environment, Mohamed Adam Al Nahla (NCP) on 6 September, the incident on 5 September should not be seen as a threat to UNAMID. As the Minister stated, the Arab militia had happened to be in the area of the Team Site on 5 September when they had been informed by the local authorities that only three vehicles of their convoy would be allowed to enter Kutum town. It was therefore in a reaction out of anger to this access denial that they had attacked the local truck and land rover. According to the Minister, after the attack, the Arabs had retreated to a nearby village, Gerir Damrat, to bury the four dead Arab militia members killed during the exchange of fire between the GoS police and Arab militia on 4 September. The Minister also stated that in the ongoing negotiations, the Arab militia groups of Kutum area (but not those from other areas, including Nyala and Kabkabiya, who had come to Kutum for reinforcement), had agreed to stop the violence. As also the Team Site Commander confirmed, tensions had calmed down in the previous 24 hours but the security situation remained unpredictable on 6 September.

It will be interesting to see the impact of the appointment of the SAF Commander Brig. Gen. Mohamed Kamal Mohammed Nur to administer Kutum locality, including Al Waha area (replacing the Kutum Locality Commissioner), on the ongoing mediation efforts under the leadership of the Wali which, so far, have not shown any concrete results. In order to reach any compromise on the difficult root causes of the conflict, such as land issues, the political will of Khartoum is required to use its influence on the Arab militia so that they are more inclined to make concessions in the currently deadlocked negotiations.

Recommendations

Reconciliation: UNAMID (CAS) should be ready to play a robust role as a neutral third-party mediator/facilitator. It is only through a facilitated political process that the problem between Arabs and non-Arabs in Kutum can be brought under control. This calls for investment in social development and dialogue. Therefore CAS should organize dialogue sessions during which both sides will air or voice their concerns, frustrations, fears, interests, positions, needs and demands. Channels of communication ought to be opened between the two sides to ensure that their talks may break down the walls of long-held mutual mistrust and animosity. This will help to build trust, confidence and cross-community cooperation and a willingness to admit mistakes, wrongs and atrocities committed by one community against the other. Furthermore, the positive influence of Khartoum on the Arab militia will be vital to reach a conflict settlement.

Protection of civilians : Reserve forces (including medical staff) and equipment need to be put on standby at Mission HQs so that they can be airlifted to reinforce Kutum or any other Team Sites in case any emergency assistance is needed to protect civilians.

4

Security of UNAMID staff at Team Site: The perimeter fence has to be reinforced immediately, followed also by a reinforcement of the Team Site’s guard forces monitoring the fence.

Medical supplies : A supply of medicines -- especially child medicines (UNICEF can be requested) -- additional beds and water tanks, should be sent to the Team Site as soon as possible.

Food supplies: One-day flights from Kutum to El Fasher and return should be scheduled, as a temporary measure, in order to enable UNAMID civilian, CIVPOL and Military Observer staff to buy food. They are facing food shortages as they usually get their food from the Kutum market which has been closed down since 5 September.

Logistical support : At least six (and ideally 15) pick-up trucks should be temporarily allocated to the Team Site. This would enable the Team Site to reinforce its patrols and show strength.