Mediators in Ethiopia table new proposals on Abyei: report
October 10, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Mediators in Addis Ababa have tabled new proposals for Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) to break the deadlock over the disputed border region of Abyei.
The U.S. sponsored talks on Abyei started since early October but both sides have stuck to their positions primarily due to pressure from the Misseriya and Dinka Ngok tribes who are the main inhabitants of Abyei.
The population of Abyei are supposed to vote early next year on whether it wants to be part of North or Southern Sudan in a vote parallel to the south voting on whether it wants to secede from the north.
Last year the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) redrew the boundaries of Abyei, ceding key oilfields to north Sudan but gave the South most of the land including Abyei town which has huge areas of fertile land and one significant oilfield. The borders have yet to be demarcated to comply with the court’s verdict because of threats levelled by the Misseriya.
The SPLM has interpreted the ruling as meaning that the cattle-herding Misseriya tribe have no right to vote in areas assigned by the PCA to the Dinka Ngok.
The government sponsored Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) website reported that the two proposals include one that provide for the immediate subordination of Abyei to South Sudan and grant the Misseriya grazing rights. The other states that Abyei is to be divided into two zones, north and south.
Sources told SMC that the NCP delegation flatly rejected the first proposal and that discussions on the second one are underway. The sources denied any withdrawal by the SPLM delegation from the talks adding that both sides formed specialized committees to discuss all the outstanding issues.
The SPLM & NCP failed to resolve their disagreement over the composition of Abyei’s electoral commission and the demarcation of the borders have yet to start. Last Monday, the Sudanese Vice president Ali Osman Taha expressed doubt that the Abyei referendum can be held on time saying many issues need to be resolved first.
(ST)
Baggaran
Mediators in Ethiopia table new proposals on Abyei: report
How many more times will Abyei be a political issue? The control and Abyei area and the marking of its borders has been a problem for over forty years.
The history lesson is clear. The Sudan government makes a peace agreement with the South. It doesn’t keep it. Years later there is more tension and a new peace deal has to be agreed. The Sudan government doesn’t keep it but creates more tension to get a negotiating advantage in the next set of peace talks.
They have done this in every agreement since Addis Adaba in 1972. The dropping of the Abyei promises in that peace deal was one of the causes of the later war. Now it’s back to Addis Adaba again. When will the GOS be made to keep to their signed deals?
Padiet Deng Alony
Mediators in Ethiopia table new proposals on Abyei: report
How come Abyei to be divide into south and north Abyei as per second proposal and that was the proposal accepted by ncp because the are going to have portion of land from Dinka Ngok land.
this proposal of dividing Ngok land will not be accepted by us.
why people are diverting from really Abyei protocol, this protocol of Abyei not to be amended as i can see it thruogh giving proposol. we all know that messeria arab use to come to Abyei land for grassing only and that proposal of grassing should be the one people agree on.
Adam
Mediators in Ethiopia table new proposals on Abyei: report
Dear Sudanese People,
Let the NCP and SPLA/M delegations given one-way ticket to Hell. Let them return to Sudan and discuss other issues and let the Dinka Ngok and Misseriya chiefs continue their talks without influence. International mediators – thanks and go to Honolulu please.
This case is tribal and they can solve their differences ad they have been doing for centuries.
Long live the people of Sudan – South and North
Down with war drum beaters – South and North
We need to live in peace and development. Enough is enough!
Adam Milawaki, Kansas City