The Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the economic effects of the closure of Sudan’s border with South Sudan.”
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): “The closure of crossing points along the border between Sudan and South Sudan has had a significant impact on supply chains for food and other goods to South Sudan, particularly impacting the northern regions which border Sudan. This is an important contributory factor in the high inflation rate in South Sudan, currently 79 per cent. Closures also have a significant impact on the livelihoods of those in both Sudan and South Sudan who depend on cross-border trade. In the longer term, the closures and resultant restriction of trade and movements of goods will have a damaging effect on both economies. We continue to support the African Union high level panel’s efforts to facilitate negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan on the management, monitoring and demarcation of their shared border.”
The Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of casualties in the conflicts in South Kordofan, Abyei and Blue Nile.”
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): “Humanitarian access to these areas remain extremely limited, and reliable information on the situations is difficult to obtain. We are therefore unable to estimate the number of casualties in the conflict areas of South Kordofan, Abyei or Blue Nile.
“The latest assessment from the United Nations (UN) Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs is that over 400,000 civilians have been severely affected by the ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. We are greatly concerned by this and continue to work closely with our international partners to push for an immediate cessation of hostilities, establishment of an agreed process to address the root causes of violence, and humanitarian access in these two states. The latest UN estimate is that 110,000 people have been displaced from Abyei. We continue to call for the Sudanese armed forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army to fully withdraw from Abyei following the deployment of the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei and the agreement of the Abyei protocol to allow these people to return home.”
Andrew Rosindell (Romford, Conservative): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the UK’s relations with South Sudan; and if he will make a statement.”
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): “The Government are committed to supporting South Sudan to become a viable and peaceful state, underpinned by good governance, respect for human rights and an environment in which humanitarian assistance can reach all that need it. We are working closely with the Government in South Sudan and with our international partners in pursuit of those goals.
“We are concerned that progress is endangered by continuing internal conflicts as well as tensions with Sudan. We urge the Governments of South Sudan and Sudan to resolve their outstanding issues peacefully and are supporting the mediation efforts. We are also providing funding and support to conflict resolution within South Sudan.
“The British Government are providing over £90 million a year for the next four years to help the people of South Sudan. This funding will support international efforts to promote peace and stability in South Sudan. Specifically, our assistance will help: build more accountable, inclusive and transparent government; deliver basic services such as education, clean water and healthcare; support economic growth; provide humanitarian relief; and improve security and access to justice.”
Andrew Rosindell (Romford, Conservative): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote equality in South Sudan.”
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): “As a new nation state, South Sudan has the opportunity to put gender equality at the heart of its developing institutions. In addition to the Department for International Development’s work, the British embassy is supporting women’s active participation in peace-building and stabilisation initiatives, in particular, the mainstreaming of gender in South Sudan’s police and security sector reform. There are some positive indicators of success, for example, the fact that women police officers represent 50% of the police force in some of South Sudan’s states.
“However, women are still under-represented in many areas of government and we are encouraging the Government of South Sudan to make it a priority to increase their involvement.”
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party): “To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the Lord’s Resistance Army’s activities in (a) the Central African Republic, (b) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (c) South Sudan and (d) Uganda.”
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): “We receive regular reports on the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) from our diplomatic missions covering these countries, and through bodies such as the UN.
“The most credible recent information suggests that 250 to 300 LRA fighters remain, scattered in small units across the region. While its numbers have been much reduced over the past decade because of military action (led by Uganda) and progress with demobilisation and repatriation under UN auspices in some areas, the LRA remains a destabilising force and a threat to civilian populations.”
Andrew Rosindell (Romford, Conservative): “To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development programmes funded by his Department aim at promoting equality in South Sudan.”
Andrew Mitchell (Secretary of State, International Development; Sutton Coldfield, Conservative): “The UK recognises the critical importance of work to promote equality as a key foundation for peace and development in South Sudan. We look for opportunities to promote equality across the range of our programmes as well as through specific targeted support. Examples of programmes that will promote equality include a planned five-year Girls Education programme which will help to tackle the barriers that prevent girls from going to school and support 150,000 girls through primary school. In the health sector, in addition to our support for primary health care we plan to help strengthen reproductive health care, so that 21,000 women are able to deliver with the help of a trained birth attendant. We are also starting to design a programme which will help to improve access to justice for 250,000 women.”
The Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench): “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what diplomatic assistance they will offer to Kenya and Sudan as regards their dispute over the recent Kenyan High Court ruling on alleged crimes in Darfur.”
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): “We are a long-term supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an independent body which plays a key role in ensuring that those who have committed the most serious of international crimes are held to account for their actions. The UK has not offered diplomatic assistance to Kenya and Sudan in regards to the recent ruling by the Kenyan High Court obliging the Kenyan Government to execute the ICC arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar El Bashir should he visit the country. The UK looks to all countries to assist the work of the International Criminal Court, but State Parties to the Rome Statute have a special responsibility to set an example by full compliance with their obligations.”
