Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s main armed opposition group in the disputed Abyei region is appealing to the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to recognize the outcome of the 2013 unilateral referendum in which 99.9% of the residents of Abyei voted in favor of joining the Republic of South Sudan.
In October 2013, permanent residents of the disputed region overwhelmingly voted to join South Sudan. The one-sided vote by the Dinka Ngok people, who occupy most of Abyei’s permanent settlements and are loyal to South Sudan, was immediately dismissed by both Khartoum and Juba who said it would carry no legal weight.
In a statement extended to Sudans Post, Hon. Nyenagwek Kuol, the Chairperson of the SPLM-IO in Abyei and the opposition nominee for the deputy minister of interior also called on President Salva Kiir Mayardit to include other opposition parties in the High-level Committee on the Final Status of Abyei.
“We call upon the President to make in conclusive the High Level Committee on the Final Status of Abyei by restructuring and reconstituting to enable all political parties to the agreement ( SPLM(IG), SPLM(IO), SSOA and the FDs) and civil societies, women groups, youth groups and faith based groups to participate,” she said in the statement.
“We call upon the governments of the two countries (Sudan and South Sudan) to recognize the results of the communal referendum which was held on 31 October 2013, in which the people of Abyei clearly determined their political destiny as south Sudanese. As such, Abyei is 100% South Sudanese,” she asserted.
While calling for the peaceful co-existence between Ngok Dinka and Mesiriya, the South Sudanese politician called for the implementation of the Abyei wealth –sharing.
“We call for implementation of wealth sharing arrangement on Abyei oil as stipulated in the Abyei protocol. The share of the Republic of South Sudan plus that of Ngok Dinka, Messeriyah, Warrap state and Southern Kordofon state must be paid in full as from July 9th, 2011 up to date,” she added.
“We call for dedication of Abyei oil revenue for developmental projects such as internal roads in Abyei Administrative Area and roads connecting the area with other states such as Northern Bahr al Ghazal, Unity state, Warrap state and Ruweng administrative area, and other vital services such as schools and hospitals,” she adds.
She further called “upon the Ngok people to voluntarily and expeditiously return home to Abyei” and for the United Nations to “incorporate in the UNISFA mandate construction of roads, schools and health facilities in Abyei.”
