Developments in the Sudan

The information below is based on the 2009 report of the Secretary General to the Security Council (A/63/785-S/2009/158) issued on 26 March 2009. More information is available in the report.

In southern Sudan, the United Nations confirmed the recruitment and use of 101 children by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). More children are present in SPLA, although the exact numbers cannot be determined prior to the completion of the registration exercise currently under way.

The United Nations reported the recruitment and use of 487 children by various armed forces and groups operating in all three Darfur states, with a majority taking place in the state of Western Darfur. The fragmentation and proliferation of opposition armed groups have created fertile ground for recruitment, with over 14 Sudanese and foreign armed forces and groups identified in Darfur for recruiting and using children.

Sexual violence continues to be a major concern in Darfur, where the United Nations verified cases of 53 children, the youngest being 6 years old, who were raped by armed elements. One third of the cases occurred within the vicinity of internally displaced persons camps. Perpetrators were identified by witnesses or victims as Government forces, including the Border Intelligence Force, the Central Reserve Police, SAF, police forces and militias supported by the Government.

United Nations monitors reported the killings of 42 children and injuries to 20 children across Darfur, mainly during attacks on villages, market places and internally displaced persons camps, or during clashes between different armed groups. The perpetrators include Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Central Reserve Police and police forces, as well as armed groups such as JEM, SLA/Unity, SLA/Minnawi, militias supported by the Government, Chadian opposition groups and tribal groups.

All attacks on schools or hospitals in Darfur occurred during ground attacks or clashes between different armed groups. Most lootings of schools and hospitals occurred in Western Darfur, including by SAF and militias supported by the Government.

The reporting period was marked by a substantial increase in attacks against humanitarian workers and premises in Darfur. Despite the extension of the moratorium on restrictions, the humanitarian community continues to face Government restrictions, such as delays and denials of work permits for international NGO staff, as well as access impediments for humanitarian missions in the field.

Parties responsible for recruitment and use of children

    Parties under the control of the Government of the Sudan:

  1. Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): this party has also been responsible for committing rape and other grave sexual violence against children in the reporting period. Status: No formal action plan. However, the United Nations continues its advocacy with SAF on issues related to grave violations against children, including the recruitment and use of children, through the Ceasefire Joint Military Committee and its seven subsidiary Area Joint Military Committees.

    2. Parties under the control of the Government of southern Sudan:

  2. Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).* Status: No formal action plan. The release and reintegration of children associated with armed forces and groups are carried out by the South Sudan disarmament, demobilization and reintegration Commission within the context of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all children from various fighting forces and armed groups. A national reintegration strategy for children associated with armed forces and groups has been developed. During the reporting period, 150 children were demobilized.
  3. Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)*.

Parties in Darfur

  1. Parties backed by the Government of the Sudan:
    1. Chadian opposition groups: this party has also been responsible for the killing and maiming of children in the reporting period;
    2. Government-supported militias*: this party has also been responsible for killing and maiming, committing rape and other grave sexual violence against children, and attacks on schools in the reporting period;
    3. Police forces, including the Central Reserve Police: this party has also been responsible for killing and maiming and committing rape and other grave sexual violence against children in the reporting period;
    4. Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): this party has also been responsible for killing and maiming, committing rape and other grave sexual violence against children, and attacks on schools and hospitals in the reporting period.
  2. Former rebel parties that have accepted the Darfur Peace Agreement:
    1. Justice and Equality Movement (Peace Wing);
    2. Movement of Popular Force for Rights and Democracy;
    3. Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)/Abu Gasim/Mother Wing;
    4. Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)/Free Will;
      Status: No action plan. However, during a meeting to launch child disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in Darfur in June 2008, representatives of the six signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement, including Justice and Equality Movement (Peace Wing), SLA/Free Will, SLA/Minni Minnawi, SLA/Peace Wing, SLA/Abu Gasim/Mother Wing and Movement of Popular Force for Rights and Democracy agreed to start discussions on a plan of action and reaffirmed their commitments for the release, return and reintegration of children associated with their groups, in accordance  with the Darfur Peace Agreement.
    5. Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)/Minni Minnawi: this party has also been responsible for the killing and maiming of children in the reporting period;
      Status: Action plan signed on 11 June 2007 between Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (Minnawi) and UNICEF. After an initial delay in implementation of the action plan owing to a lack of clarity on the mandate and channels of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in Darfur, SLM/A (Minnawi) reaffirmed its commitment for the release, return and reintegration of children into its ranks in June 2008; so far, 16 children have been registered for demobilization.
    6. Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)/Peace Wing.
  3. Rebel parties that have rejected the Darfur Peace Agreement:

    1. Justice and Equality Movement (JEM): this party has also been responsible for the killing and maiming of children and attacks on schools and hospitals in the reporting period; Status: Dialogue has been initiated by the United Nations with JEM to translate commitments into an action plan. In July 2008, JEM stated its commitment during a workshop held by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva to refrain from recruiting children for military operations.
    2. Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)/Abdul Wahid;
    3. Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)/Unity: this party has also been responsible for the killing and maiming of children and attacks on schools and hospitals in the reporting period. Status: No action plan. In July 2008, SLA/Unity, during the workshop in Geneva, also committed to refrain from recruiting children.

Parties marked with an asterisk (*) have been on the annex lists for a minimum of four years.

Press Releases by the Special Representative:
Press Statement following the meetings of the Working Group by Ambassador de la Sablière, Permanent Representative of France to the UN and Chairman of the Working Group.