New Zealand Army Major Terry McDonald has just returned from six months working as a Military Planner for the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). New Zealand is one of 62 nations who contribute to UNMIS, and the New Zealand Defence Force has three officers committed to UN efforts in Sudan; a planner at the headquarters in Khartoum and two United Nations Military Observers (UNMOs) at remote sites. An UNMO’s role is to monitor the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army. The Defence Force commitment complements the broader New Zealand government approach, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (through NZAID) having contributed several million dollars to help relieve the humanitarian crisis there, particularly in Darfur, since 2004. MAJ McDonald reflects on his deployment as Sudan approaches its first democratic elections in 25 years.
‘The darkest thing about Africa has always been our ignorance of it.’
George Kimble – Geographer.
Sudan, or more specifically its capital, Khartoum, sounds like an exotic location shrouded in mystery. It’s at the confluence of the White and Blue Nile, making it strategically important within North Eastern Africa, and has been the centre of much fighting since it was founded in 1821.
Before my deployment to UNMIS, my perception of Khartoum was romantic. I also thought (having seen Sudan on a map) that while a large country, it wasn’t “all that big”. I soon found out Sudan is about ten times the size of New Zealand, with swamps the size of the North Island.
UNMIS Headquarters is in Khartoum. An eclectic mix of military, police and civilian staff have contributed to UNMIS since the CPA was signed in 2005. This uneasy peace agreement was reached between the civil war factions of the Khartoum central government and the rebel movement, based in southern Sudan.
The peace agreement put an end to another Sudanese civil war, which had seen fighting for 22 years, claimed approx 1.9 million lives, and displaced up to 4 million people. Yet, when people think of Sudan, their minds generally turn to the conflict in the Darfur, believed to have claimed up to 300,000 lives and displaced 2.5 million people. The magnitude of the human cost here may be inconceivable to a Kiwi.
Having just three people in the New Zealand contingent helped us bond closely. Coupled with the isolation of the team sites (Lieutenant Commander Laurie French was based in Rumbek in Southern Sudan and Lieutenant Andrew Wilson in Benitu, close to the contested borderline between the North and South) and the immensity of the African continent, we relied on each other.
I was the head Military Planner at the UNMIS military headquarters, which commands 10,000 troops and 500 UNMOs across an area ten times larger than New Zealand. LTCDR French and LT Wilson monitored the redeployment of troops and investigated violations of the ceasefire established as part of the peace agreement.
The lead up to the Sudan elections (held in April 2010), dominated much of our time with the UN. Sudan’s last multi-party elections were held 22 years ago and then few areas in the South participated due to civil war. In 2010 the electoral system is a mix of proportional representation (new to Sudan) and what is called ‘majoritarian’. With more than 16 million people registering to vote, these elections have presented major logistical issues.
UNMIS helped the Sudan National Elections Commission to complete the voter registration process. From the Headquarters perspective we contributed to planning the event.
Both LTCDR French and LT Wilson were actively involved on the ground providing an encouraging UN presence within their respective areas during the registration process in November 2009. They delivered registration material to remote stations and talked to local people about their perceptions of how things were going.
Talking to people is key in operations such as UNMIS—ensuring people see the UN, reassuring people that the UN and international community are with them.
Planning for the elections proper was finalised just weeks before my departure from Sudan and I will watch the outcome with interest.
Another part of our remit was assisting with security around the annual migration of nomadic farmers who move between the North and South. There is persistent tribal fighting, especially in southern Sudan, and weapons are part of the everyday culture. A key component of our mandate is to protect civilians and in this we strive to do what we can.
We were also involved in monitoring the formation of a joint Army comprised of north and south soldiers, and providing support where we could to make their lives a little easier. Following the peace agreement, the armies of the North and South sought to combine a 40,000-strong force known as Joint Integrated Units to monitor the contested border line and provide a symbol of national unity.
Sudan’s issues are large, longstanding, complex and not well understood, yet it is important to remember that Sudan, as a nation, is a functioning state; it has a government, law and order, and transport.
Being a Military Planner for UNMIS was an exceptionally rewarding experience, yet I can’t help but think of the line in the movie Blood Diamond that goes something like, “You come over here with your lap top, your anti-malaria pills and your hand sanitizer and think you are going to change the outcome ….” Well, that’s worth bearing in mind, too. Five years is a mere hiccup in the history of Sudan. Yes, we make gains, but we also know that this is a marathon and it will take some time to bring peace and stability into the region.
The purpose of having Defence Force personnel on the ground in Sudan is to improve what we can, where we can, and ensure that the good reputation that has been established by our predecessors remains intact, allowing Kiwis to continue to be counted as ‘doers’ within UNMIS. Despite the huge logistical challenges around the elections, I am confident that Sudan can succeed.
Under Blue Berets
Why are NZDF personnel in Sudan?
The NZDF is in Sudan as part of UNMIS at the request of the government of Sudan. The Defence Force is committed to assisting UNMIS promote peace and security within the United Nations mandate. The New Zealand contingent contributes to the multinational force, made up of soldiers from up to 62 nations. It is engaged in diverse peace keeping activities within the terms of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
What is the NZDF contribution?
The Defence Force contributes three personnel to UNMIS. Two officers serve as United Nations Military Observers (UNMOs) and one officer is based at the UNMIS Joint Operations Centre within the mission’s headquarters in the capital, Khartoum. The two UNMOs are based in remote team sites within Southern Sudan and are the ‘eyes and ears’ of UNMIS.
What do NZDF personnel do in Sudan?
The main function of the UNMIS military component is to observe, monitor and verify the activities of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). By doing this, the UN aims to ensure opposing forces adhere to the peace process as set out in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005, at the end of the civil war between north and south Sudan.
Who commands the contingent?
The Commander of Joint Forces New Zealand, Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell has overall responsibility for operational command of all deployed Defence Force personnel.
In theatre, Major Edward Craw is the Senior National Officer for the contingent, taking over from Major Terry McDonald on 1 April, 2010. Lieutenant Commander Pitiera Dawson (RNZN) and Lieutenant Kerry Driver (RNZN) have recently deployed as UNMOs.
The NZDF’s other UN Commitments
The Defence Force contributes one military liaison person to Iraq, eight personnel to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East, and three officers to Korea to monitor compliance of the Armistice Agreement between North and South Korea.
For further information about UNMIS please go to: http://unmis.unmission.org.