Conflict and insecurity in southern Sudan

Briefing for Baroness Cox’s Sudan debate in the House of Lords, 7 January 2010

This briefing was prepared for the House of Lords debate on the Sudan on 7 January 2010.

The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) continues to be driven by the belief that a renewed confrontation with the north is likely: this perception dominates its security thinking.

However GoSS has yet to establish security throughout the south or to address internal conflicts and challenges to its authority – yet escalating violence and insecurity in the south is a risk to overall peace in Sudan. A GoSS pre-occupation with civilian disarmament in the current context is unlikely to contribute to the broader goals of peace and security.

The UK needs to appreciate GoSS’s security dilemmas and priorities and use these to inform its support for the development of security and conflict prevention policies and institutions.