I recently had the privilege of visiting James Madison University to attend the closing ceremony for the 2012 Senior Managers’ Course in Explosive Remnants of War and Mine Action, where I met a select group of individuals serving on the front lines of humanitarian crises and post-conflict environments around the world.
This year, the 17 participants represented 13 different countries, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Vietnam. These “Senior Managers” are each leaders in their respective national mine action and ERW programs. This diversity the students bring in terms of background and experience is one of the main reasons… more »
South Sudan Integrated Mine Action Service Brings Security to War-Torn Communities
As South Sudan approaches the first anniversary since independence, the country faces profound challenges from landmines and unexploded munitions, which remain a tragic legacy of decades of conflict. On the front lines of this new struggle against these hidden hazards are the dedicated men and women of the South Sudan Integrated Mine Action Service (SIMAS).
I recently visited South Sudan to meet the organization’s brave and dedicated staff, and I saw firsthand how U.S. support for conventional weapons destruction is making a difference in the world’s newest nation.
Landmines and unexploded ordnance inhibit development, disrupt markets and production, prevent the delivery of goods and services, and generally obstruct reconstruction and stabilization… more »
Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivers remarks on the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan to the United Nations Security Council in New York, New York on May 2, 2012. [Go to http://video.state.gov for more video and text transcript.]
Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, deliver remarks to the press on Sudan. South Sudan, and Syria at the United Nations in New York, New York on April 25, 2012. [Go to http://video.state.gov for more video and text transcript.]
On the Attack on South Sudan by Sudan
Press Statement Victoria Nuland Department Spokesperson Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC April 23, 2012
The United States strongly condemns Sudan’s military incursion into South Sudan yesterday and calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of all Sudanese armed militia from South Sudan. Sudan must immediately halt the aerial and artillery bombardment in South Sudan by the Sudan Armed Forces. Sudan and South Sudan must end all military support for rebel groups within the other country.
We recognize the right of South Sudan to self-defense and urge South Sudan to exercise restraint in its reaction to Sudan’s attack in Unity State and to refrain from disproportionate actions which would only further enflame the hostilities between the parties. We welcome South Sudan’s withdrawal from Heglig, and we urge that South Sudan complete a total withdrawal of all South Sudanese armed forces deployed across the January 1, 1956 border.
Both governments must agree to an immediate unconditional cessation of hostilities and recommit to negotiations under the auspices of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel. We urge both parties to activate without delay the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, including unarmed observers from both parties supported by UN observers.
As President Obama stated in his message to the people of Sudan and South Sudan, “All those who are fighting must recognize that there is no military solution. The only way to achieve real and lasting security is to resolve your differences through negotiation.”
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a message to the people of Sudan and South Sudan, April 21, 2012.
Ambassador Princeton Lyman, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, on Recent Developments in Sudan and South Sudan
Special Briefing
Ambassador Princeton Lyman, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan
via Teleconference
Washington, DC
April 19, 2012
MR. TONER: Thank you very much, and thanks to everyone for joining us on relatively short notice. We’re very fortunate to have Ambassador Princeton Lyman, who is the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan joining us from Khartoum, where he is carrying out meetings, and I believe has more meetings yet still to come. But he took some time out of his schedule. He’s here to brief on recent developments in Sudan and South Sudan, and read out his recent trip to Juba as well as his meetings in Khartoum.
So without further hesitation or further pause, I’ll just hand it over to Ambassador Lyman.
AMBASSADOR LYMAN: Mark, thank you very much. Thanks to all of you for being on the line. Let me give a quick kind of overview of what’s going on from our point of view and then want to take your questions.
We are, of course, dealing with a very, very serious crisis between Sudan and South Sudan, one in which armed clashes are taking place, and a major event took place a few days ago with the – South Sudan’s occupation of the Heglig area. First of all, it’s important to note that the reaction and position of the international community was quick and absolutely unified, and it wasn’t by coordination. We all just – all saw the situation the same way – that this was an extremely dangerous step by South Sudan and it threatened a much wider conflict. MORE
U.S. Takes the Reins of the UN Security Council Presidency
About the Author: Alex McPhillips serves as Press Officer and Associate Director for Digital Media at the U.S. Mission to the UN in New York.
When Ambassador Susan Rice assumed the rotating monthly Presidency of the UN Security Council from the United Kingdom this week, she began by taking a question on Twitter.
“The world is shrinking,” Ambassador Rice said recently. In a world of freely moving information, we also face rapidly evolving threats that can just as easily cross borders. As President, Ambassador Rice is using her agenda-setting power to focus the Council’s attention on such 21st century challenges, from the proliferation of nuclear materials to illicit arms flows to humanitarian crises.
On Violence in Southern Kordofan and Negotiations Between Sudan and South Sudan
Press Statement
Victoria Nuland Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 22, 2012
The United States is alarmed by the threat of greater violence between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-Northern Sector (SPLM-N) in Southern Kordofan State. Any such fighting will only worsen the humanitarian crisis there and lead to more civilian casualties. The conflict in Southern Kordofan and neighboring Blue Nile is also fuelling mistrust between Sudan and South Sudan and the United States is deeply concerned about the potential for a resumption of direct conflict between the North and South. Rather than risk the potential for war, both countries should prepare in good faith for the summit planned for early April between President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan.
The United States urgently calls on the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N to agree on a cessation of hostilities. We reiterate our demand that the SAF end aerial bombardments of civilian areas and immediately allow unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. We also demand that South Sudan end any military support for the SPLM-N and work with the Government of Sudan on ways jointly to bring peace to the border region. We hope that the upcoming summit will focus on this objective along with issues such as oil and nationalities. We strongly condemn all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and demand that those responsible be held accountable for their actions.
The renewed fighting in North Darfur among SAF, rebel groups, and paramilitary forces further deepens the crisis in that region and threatens the progress made since the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur in July 2011. We are deeply concerned about the displacement of civilians from their home areas. We urge the Government of Sudan, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur, and the newly established Darfur Regional Authority to address this situation urgently
New Roads in South Sudan
About the Author: About the Author: Sarah Armstrong serves as a Development, Outreach, and Communications Officer at USAID’s Mission in South Sudan.
Western Equatoria State, being one of the largest states in South Sudan and commonly referred to as “the bread basket of Sudan,” is starting the long climb back to its former productivity, with small farmers producing surplus farm produce that is made available in the local markets. Infrastructure development in South Sudan was crippled by decades of civil war and a devastated economy. Now, there is a renewed focus on rebuilding the economy through the variety of means, including roads rehabilitation. On June 13, 2011, both U.S. and Government of South Sudan officials, including the local community, met in Tambura town to cut the ribbon as they inaugurated the first all-weather road in the state.
“The first phase of this program was completed and handed over to the Ministry of Transport and Roads and to the Government of Western Equatoria in November 2009, and together… more »
![Major General Walter D. Givhan recognizes participants at the 2012 Senior Managers Course in Explosive Remnants of War and Mine Action at the James Madison University, June 2012. This year, the 17 participants represented 13 different countries, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Vietnam. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0712_pm_ceremony_m.jpg)
![The United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in Syria, Jan. 31, 2012 at United Nations headquarters. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0404_unsc_m.jpg)
![Residents of Juba, SouthSudan, cross a road on April 7, 2010. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0816_road_south_sudan_m.jpg)
