Pick of the week – On the wrong side of the border: Sudan’s southern states
The Punjab, Jerusalem, Cataluña, Shanghai: these are just some of the places where power over physical and psychological space has been particularly contested in history. Now, in a world where interchange and exchange between countries happens to an unprecedented degree, shifting borders remain an important feature in influencing – and sometimes endangering – everyday lives.
This pick of the week brings you the latest from Sudan’s southern states, where tensions between Sudan and the recently independent South Sudan continue to be fought out.
1. ‘Sudan Battles Rebels In Blue Nile State‘
Blue Nile State, in the south of Sudan but to the north of the South Sudanese border, is coming under increased control by the Sudanese Armed Forces, which captured an important rebel base, Kurduk, last week.
During the two decades of Sudan’s civil war, many supporters of the south resided in this area; now, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) represents the rebel movement that has grown out of these individuals who have found themselves on the wrong side of the border.
For a fantastic background to the conflict, as well as slideshow of some of the most recent images, check out this Global Post feature.
Asma, in Sherkole Refugee Camp, Ethiopia, is one of thousands who has fled Blue Nile to avoid fighting. She faces an uncertain future, with little way of knowing whether the rest of her family are safe. Read this powerful interview with her here.
3. ‘The Sudanese Army Bombs A Blue Nile Refugee Area‘
Not all refugees have fled to Ethiopia like Asma. Others have been more successful in returning to South Sudan, including to the Upper Nile State in the north of the country. However, it seems that this has not guaranteed their security, with recent reports coming through that the Sudanese Army has attacked a border town (Gaffa) in this area.
4. ‘Crisis looms as 12,000 people stranded on Sudan border‘
Refugees in Sudan face uncertainty not only because of the conflict that permeates their everyday lives but also due to their ambiguous status as citizens. When South Sudan became independent in July of this year, over 700,000 people living in the south of Sudan ceased to have Sudanese nationality, but the way in which they re-confirm their status is unclear. For more on this issue, read this article.
