Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 May 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 5 June 2008. It was answered by Jim Murphy (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 June 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on violence occurring at Abyei, Sudan; if he will take steps to encourage mediation between the National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on this matter; what reports he has received on how this conflict impacts on the wealth-sharing arrangements under the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement; what assessment he has made of the effect on the Abyei Border Commission's recommendations; and if he will put pressure on both sides to come to an agreement over the Commission's report.

Answer: [holding answer 5 June 2008]: We have received reports that the clashes between the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, local militias and Sudanese armed forces of 14-21 May in Abyei resulted in the displacement of over 60,000 people from the town, and that a ceasefire of 18 May is now being respected.We have urged both the National Congress Party and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement, including during the visit to Sudan of the permanent secretaries of the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (18-21 May), to engage with the Assessment and Evaluation Commission as a suitable body to broker a resolution for the border disputes.Full implementation of the Abyei Protocol of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement requires resolution of differences over wealth sharing and access to land. Our embassy in Khartoum, in close co-ordination with key partners, continues to apply pressure to both sides to resolve them.

Secondary information