On May 2, 2012, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2046, which called for, among other things, the government of Sudan’s acceptance of the so-called “Tripartite Proposal” to facilitate the delivery of international humanitarian assistance to war torn regions in the Sudanese states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Resolution 2046 expressed the U.N. Security Council’s intention to take appropriate measures under Article41 of the U.N. Charter against any party that failed to comply with the resolution’s terms.
Today, nearly five months since Resolution 2046’s adoption, the Sudanese government continues to deny international humanitarian aid organizations with access to civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, particularly those civilians trapped in areas under the control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, or SPLM-N. The SPLM-N, along with other armed movements, has been engaged in a rebellion against the central government for over a year. On August 5, the Sudanese government signed a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, with the U.N., the African Union, and the League of Arab States – collectively known as the “Tripartite Partners” – providing for the development and implementation of an action plan related to the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the two states. However, Khartoum continues to thwart concerted international efforts to implement the MOU. Meanwhile, nearly 700,000 civilians are internally displaced or severely affected by the conflicts in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Of this number, as many as 400,000 civilians may be located in areas controlled by the SPLM-N. These civilians are entirely cut off from international humanitarian assistance and are at risk of severe malnutrition.
The government of Sudan has demonstrated over the past year that it has little intention to
take seriously international efforts to negotiate humanitarian access into South Kordofan
and Blue Nile. The government has, as well, categorically failed to protect civilians within
its territory, thereby shifting the burden to protect those vulnerable populations onto the
international community pursuant to the responsibility to protect doctrine, or R2P.