President receives report of Abyei panel on border demarcation

KHARTOUM, July 14, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The president of the Republic, Omar al-Bashir, received the report by the Abyei Commission on border demarcation carried out by an expert team.

Al-Beshir received the report in the presence of the First Vice-President, Dr. John Garang, and the Vice – President, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha.

The commission’s delegation was headed by the former American ambassador to Sudan, David Petterson.

A member of the commission, Dirdir Mohamed Ahmad, said the border story, as per the map of 1905, would not be able to be completed before its borders are fixed in accordance with the available documents and chances. In this regard, the experts have succeeded in fixing the areas inhabited by the two tribes of Al-Masiriya and Denka since that time up to date.

The expert team fixed the areas of co-existence, then presented the map and clarifications on the co-existence between the tribes.

After delivery of the report, the acting Minister of Information and Communication and government spokesman, Abdul-Basit Sabdarat, said that the report will be subjected to thorough study prior to taking the necessary decisions on it.

The Commission on Abyei is composed of 15 members; five of them were international experts, while each of the government and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has five members in the commission.

The Commission on Abyei has engaged in continuous meetings in Nairobi since last April and paid field visits to Abyei area. The commission also visited the Records Houses of Sudan, Britain, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa in the context of its effort to get documents and information on its task.