Africa-Press – South-Sudan. With crossed fingers and bated breath, Abyei residents have surrendered their fate to President Salva Kiir and the United Nations, who are now expected to play pivotal roles in determining the final status of the region.
In 2013, residents in the disputed region of Abyei conducted a community-based referendum in which they voted overwhelmingly (99.9 per cent) to join South Sudan.
However, this exercise was rejected by Sudan and other regional and international bodies.
In the face of silence, the subject of the determination regional status slithered into the public debate.
On Wednesday, the Minister of East African Community Affairs, Deng Alor Kuol—who also serves as the chairperson of Abyei—noted in his briefing to President Salva Kiir that they would be awaiting a crucial stand from the Head of State.
Deng said the president was concerned about the situation in Abyei and was determined to look into the issue as soon as possible.
He added that the president would soon make his final position on the final status of the area.
Machar declares stand
Earlier in the week, the Office of the First Vice President, Riek Machar, urged the party members not to interfere with the will of the Abyei people.
SPLM-IO promised to punish those spotted propagating negative content against the people of Abyei.
“Individuals or members who have been found propagating [information] against the will of the people of Abyei must be disciplined by the party as per(IO) code of conduct, internal regulations, among others,” the statement read in part.
SPLM-IO called on the African Union to develop a tangible solution to the contentious Abyei status.
“We hope that the African Union High Commission headed by a former South African President will come up with a concrete solution to the status of Abyei.”
“We believe that Abyei’s destiny cannot be determined by individuals since it [has] become a national issue which requires our collective ideas and views as people of South Sudan,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Vice President for Services Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi, met the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in New York during the 77th UN General Assembly, where he called on the UN to recognise the 2013Abyei referendum results that determined Abyei’s final Status.
In the latter dated August 26, 2022, the SPLM Party’s Abyei Secretariat rejected Francis Mading’s proposal, arguing it was an individual decision against the will of the people of Abyei.
They called on the government through Foreign Affairs to push the Sudanese government to resume negotiations on the final status of Abyei.
SPLM called on AUHIP to transfer the Abyei file for the UNSC decision in case of difficulties that might have blocked their efforts.
However, the latest workshop conducted by Sophia Albino Deng, Chairperson of Abyei Voice for Security and Stability, recommended self-governance—a move which was rejected by the chief administrator’s office, community leaders, civil society, and youth.
“The core principles of the proposed arrangement include: establishing Abyei of the Ngok Dinka as a self-governing region connected to both countries, with security guarantees by the international community,” Albino said in her report.
The residents protested with banners with writings such as “give us self-rule or recognise the 2013 Abyei referendum results.”
Francis Mading had also proposed for for joint admiration between Misseriya and Ngok Dinka
He suggested dual citizenship for Ngok and Misseriya in the two countries of South Sudan and Abyei.
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