In recent days the renewed hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan have caught the world’s attention. However, the back-and-forth between the two countries has often been difficult to follow. In light of this, the Enough Project has produced a new timeline to chronicle the often confusing events along the border and in the negotiating room.;xNLx;;xNLx;The timeline details major events since the signing of the non-aggression pact in February to the recent bombings in and around the Unity state capital of Bentiu.;xNLx;Only two months ago the situation between North and South was very different. On February 11, 2012, the government of Sudan and newly independent state of South Sudan signed a non-aggression pact outlining "respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and commitments to "refrain from launching any attack, including bombardment.";xNLx;;xNLx;By early March, negotiations in Addis Ababa between the two countries had progressed further and a “new spirit of cooperation” had emerged. Plans were made for Presidents Bashir and Kiir to sign the recently agreed upon arrangements in the southern capital of Juba at a bilateral summit.;xNLx;;xNLx;Unfortunately, these milestones have been short-lived. Recent violent clashes over the oil-rich area of Heglig and continued aerial bombardments of South Sudan by Sudanese forces have severely undermined initial progresses made at the beginning of the year.;xNLx;;xNLx;In the past week alone, the two countries have slid closer and closer to war. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has increased his saber rattling and war rhetoric stating, “dialogue with these people will be through the gun because they only understand the language of the gun.” Accordingly, the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, has continued bombing attacks well inside South Sudan’s Unity state.
Sudan and South Sudan sign a "non-aggression" pact during talks in Addis Ababa agreeing to "respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and to "refrain from launching any attack, including bombardment."
Sudan and South Sudan initial two agreements in Addis Ababa that, if signed, would grant South Sudanese and Sudanese citizens certain freedoms in the other state, and commit the two states to a timeline to demarcate the agreed-upon areas of the North-South border. The round of talks concludes in a new “spirit of cooperation,” and with the announcement that the agreements would be signed in a bilateral summit attended by the two heads of states in Juba.
Pagan Amum, South Sudan’s chief negotiator in talks with Sudan over outstanding post-independence issues, travels to Khartoum and personally delivers a letter of invitation to the President al-Bashir to join in a summit with Kiir in South Sudan. Bashir accepts the invitation.
Clashes break out between Sudan’s and South Sudan’s armies in the disputed oil-rich area of Heglig. Both sides trade accusations about who instigated the violence.
The same day, a rebel group in South Sudan claims it captured a southern army barrack in Pariang county, Unity state—
Sudan bombs oil fields in Unity state, South Sudan.
The U.S. says it is “alarmed” by fighting along the disputed border area and in South Kordofan, calling on both parties to “exert the greatest restraint in this situation” and for both countries to proceed with plans for dialogue.
South Sudan troops withdraw from the disputed area of Heglig.
The Africa Union and United Nations convene a forum attended by representatives from Sudan and South Sudan, the Security Council, neighboring states, regional and international organizations, and other international stakeholders.
Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, or SPLM-N, forces in Sudan's oil-producing border state of South Kordofan launch an assault on Talodi town.
Sudan officials begin to arrive in Addis for talks with South Sudan.
South Sudan accuses Sudan of bombing its military positions along the border, saying Sudan intends to invade the oil fields in Unity state.
Sudan accuses South Sudan troops of launching another offensive into Heglig, an allegation South Sudan denies, while fighting in Talodi continues.
South Sudan says its troops clashed with SSLA rebels in Unity and Upper Nile...
South Sudan and Sudan begin direct talks aimed at easing military tensions. South Sudan says bombings by Sudan continue.
SPLA-N rebels in Blue Nile state claim to kill 21 Sudanese soldiers during an ambush.
President Obama urges both parties to show restraint.
Talks between Sudan and South Sudan in Addis Ababa end after Khartoum asks for time to consider an African Union proposal that South Sudan accepted.
South Sudan says it shot down a Sudan MIG-29 jet flying over its territory, which Sudan denies.
U.N. Chief Ban Ki-Moon pleads with Sudan and South Sudan to withdraw troops and police from the disputed Abyei region amid international fears that repeated border clashes between the neighbors could escalate to war.
The A.U. High-Level Implementation Panel announces that Bashir will meet his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir...
Hundreds of South Sudanese are stranded after being denied permission to board their flights to the south in a dispute over their legal status.
South Sudan’s army retakes control of the disputed area of Heglig, the government says in response to continued bombings and an attack on the border town of Teshwin by Sudan forces.
The Sudanese government says it will discontinue talks with South Sudan and declares a general mobilization.
The U.S. “condemns” South Sudan’s retaking of Heglig, calling the move “an act which goes beyond self-defense” ...
South Sudan declares that as of 9th April 2012, all Sudanese nationals living in South Sudan are foreigners but will be “given time to correct their immigration status.”
South Sudan President Salva Kiir tells the national parliament that the army will not withdraw from Heglig “not because we are interested in war. But because we would resolve this problem once and for all.”
One South Sudan official says Sudan’s bombing of Unity state kills one civilian and injures another.
Sudan’s army says it is advancing on Heglig to push South Sudan’s forces out.
Sudan and South Sudan forces clash between the border towns of Kharasana and Heglig...
South Sudan says Sudan forces have yet to reach the disputed town of Heglig, but continue to bomb the area...
The Egyptian Foreign Minister begins a tour to Khartoum and Juba to push the two sides toward a peaceful resolution.
Aerial bombardment by Sudan continues in Unity state, killing nine civilians, according to the South.
Sudan's parliament voted unanimously to brand the government of South Sudan an enemy, after southern troops invaded the North’s main oilfield.
According to both northern and southern officials, fighting breaks out at a site along the South Kordofan-Northern Bahr-el Ghazal border...
The United Nations Security Council announces that it is considering imposing sanctions on the governments of Khartoum and Juba.
Kenya’s President, Mwai Kibaki, calls on the East African Community to jointly find ways of diplomatically addressing the situation between Sudan and South Sudan.
President Omar Hassan al-Bashir announces that the government’s "main goal is liberation of the southern citizens from the SPLM”...
Appearing in front of a large rally in the Sudanese border province of North Kordofan, President Bashir vows to teach South Sudan a “final lesson by force.”
South Sudan says southern forces repelled four attacks launched by Sudan’s army—three on April 18, and one on April 19.
President Kiir orders the withdrawal of South Sudanese troops from Heglig...
President Kiir says the SPLA is still in full control of the area of Heglig despite the statements from Khartoum saying that Sudan’s forces have recaptured the area.
South Sudan welcomes the announcement made by the chief of Uganda People’s Defense Forces, or UPDF, that his forces will intervene if the fighting between Juba and Khartoum escalates into an all–out war.
President Bashir announces that his country will not allow South Sudan to export oil through the pipelines in the north.
The U.S. President Barack Obama makes a personal appeal to the governments in Khartoum and Juba to end the fighting.
South Sudan’s Vice President, Riek Machar, confirms that the Sudan Armed Forces entered Heglig town on Friday evening, April 20.
The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Mun issues a statement in reaction to Juba’s announcement to pull its troops out of Heglig area. Ban Ki-Moon says he “takes note” of South Sudan’s announcement on the matter and urges both sides to resume negotiations on the outstanding issues between them.
Sudan’s presidential assistant, Nafie Ali Nafie, acccuses South Sudan’s government of deceiving its people by saying that its army withdrew from Heglig. Khartoum alleges that SAF had defeated the SPLA.
SAF warplanes carry out an intensive bombardment of the Unity state capital town of Bentiu and neighboring Rubkona.
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council announces to hold a meeting this week in response to continued fighting on the border. The AU calls for Sudan and South Sudan to renew discussions on outstanding issues and end the conflict.
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