African Panel says none of the Sudanese parties should undertake unilateral action in Abyei

African Union

PRESS STATEMENT

The African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (Auhip) actively engaged in efforts to address the Issue of the Abyei Area, In Sudan

Addid Ababa, 9 May 2011: Within the framework of the ongoing efforts aimed at finding a lasting solution to the Abyei issue, former President of Burundi, Pierre Buyoya, member of the AUHIP, along with the Special Representative of the Secretary?General (SRSG) for the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), Haile Menkerios, and the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, Ambassador Princeton Lyman, met with the President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, on 5 May 2011. Subsequently, President Buyoya met with the Vice President of Sudan, H.E. Ali Osman Taha, on 8 May 2011.

During both meetings, President Buyoya impressed upon the Parties the importance of immediate steps to implement the Kadugli Security Agreements already reached. He emphasized that there should be no unilateral action taken by either Party that might negatively affect the security or political situation in the Abyei area.

President Buyoya obtained commitments, from both President Salva Kiir and Vice President Ali Osman Taha, that neither Government shall include an unconditional claim to Abyei in its draft national Constitution. In this regard, both sides reiterated their commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). On the basis of these commitments, the AUHIP understands that the status of Abyei will remain unchanged until a political settlement is agreed.

It should be recalled that, at the request of the two Sudanese Parties to CPA, the AUHIP has undertaken to submit a proposal for the resolution of the issue of Abyei to be presented as soon as possible.