Ngok Dinka accused of working to hold unilateral vote on Abyei future

October 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A leading member of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Abyei accused the Ngok Dinka of defying the African Union decision and preparing to hold an unilateral vote on the fate of the disputed region.

Mac Yak Kor, a former member of Abyei administration accused Deng Alor, a leading member in the South Sudan ruling party SPLM and former minister, of mobilising the Ngok Dinka to carry out a referendum to determine the future of the contested area.

Kor told the official news agency (SUNA) that Alor uses a group called “Youth for Abyei Referendum” to prepare for the unilateral vote, stressing they are now campaigning in the northern part of the claimed area.

He called on the United Nations mission in Abyei (UNISFA) to “take the necessary steps to stop these negative moves” which aim to portray Sudan as the biggest enemy of the Dinka, Kor added.

The former official of Abyei administration further urged the Sudanese government to take precautionary security measures to protect civilians there in the event of any problem with “SPLM groups”, he said.

Sudan and South Sudan failed to reach a compromise over voter eligibility before to hold a referendum to determine the future of Abyei. They also rejected two proposals the African Union mediation team had made to settle this conflict.

Juba recently banned its official media from publicising or organising talk-shows on issues related to Abyei unilateral referendum.

The South Sudanese president Salva Kiir and his government has often been criticised in the media for normalising relations with Sudan without reaching an agreement over Abyei status with Khartoum.

The Sudanese government for the first time on Saturday confirmed that president Omer Al-Bashir will fly to Juba on Tuesday 22 October for talks with his South Sudanese counterpart on bilateral relations.

A statement released by SUNA says that Bashir will visit Juba leading a high level delegation upon an invitation extended by Kiir to discuss issues of mutual concern without details.

Different sources, however, say their meeting will discuss Abyei this time, as many officials complained during last month summit in Khartoum that no time was dedicated to the disputed areas.

(ST)