Questions
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will help the Governments of north and south Sudan after the elections to begin negotiations on post-referendum arrangements; and, if so, how. [HL1481]
The UK has been funding work by Chatham House with both parties in Sudan to take forward post-2011 issues. We continue to discuss the nature and co-ordination of this support with the parties in Sudan and our international partners. We will also continue to work with Sir Derek Plumbly and the Assessment and Evaluation Commission.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made under Sudan’s comprehensive peace agreement with demarcating the remaining sections of the north-south border; and with formulating projects designed to stabilise cross-border relations in those areas. [HL1482]
There is still much to do on border demarcation, including delineation of the border and the placing of boundary markers. My noble friend Lady Kinnock called on both parties to address these and other outstanding comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) issues as a matter of urgency when she was in Sudan earlier this month.
The UK is funding projects in the three areas both bilaterally and multilaterally. The UK has provided £2.3 million since January 2009 towards community-based projects and initiatives throughout the three areas. These aim to support the implementation of the CPA in by supporting peace-building measures for sensitive seasonal cross-border migrations by nomadic farmers and groups. We are also providing £800,000 in support for the Abyei Administration.
Multilaterally, we provide approximately £2.4 million towards a UN Children’s Fund project for school construction and provided around $10 million in 2008-09 for humanitarian programmes through the Common Humanitarian Fund.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take regarding the capacity of Sudan's National Petroleum Commission to encourage transparency in the audit of oil production figures and involvement by officials from the Government of south Sudan in the work of the Commission. [HL1483]
We are in discussions with international partners regarding Sudan’s oil sector capacity-building programme, with a specific focus on enhancement of transparency and monitoring. We have also had discussions with the Government of Southern Sudan Ministry of Energy and Mining on this subject. During my noble friend Lady Kinnock’s visit to Sudan earlier this month she encouraged both parties to focus on reaching agreement on post-2011 issues including wealth sharing.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of how the joint integrated units (JIU) have carried out their peacekeeping tasks in the south of Sudan; and what immediate plans they and other donors have to strengthen the JIU to prevent conflict in Abyei, southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. [HL1484]
The performance of joint integrated units (JIU) across Sudan has been variable. We continue to seek to improve JIU performance by working with UN Mission in Sudan and the Assessment and Evaluation Commission Sudan, to encourage continued JIU deployment and the development of their security capacity in all areas mandated by the comprehensive peace agreement.
The UK continues to provide bilateral funds to support the JIUs in terms of essential life support. The Government of National Unity remain responsible for provision of JIU equipment and pay. The UK, along with international donors has set up a UN trust fund for JIU support.