Sudanese presidency and Abyei
Editorial by The Khartoum Monitor
Oct 9, 2005 — The comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) has accorded Abyei area a special administrative status under the institution of the presidency.
The CPA also stipulates that the area of Abyei shall be administered by a local executive council, elected by the residents of Abyei and the council will remain in place until its members are elected.
However, pending the election of Abyei area executive council, the presidency shall appoint initial members to administer the area.
These are simple and uncomplicated clauses of the CPA on Abyei area and are well understood by the people of Abyei.
What really confuses the Abyei people, are the unjustifiable delays by the institution of the presidency to appoint the chief of the executive council and his or her deputy who will thereafter recommend the appointment of the heads of the five departments forming the administration of the area to oversee the area in terms of necessary services in addition to promotion of security and stability.
Unlike the Government of South Sudan, the Abyei Area does not need a constitution to be ratified or approved by the National Assembly. All that it requires is a practical step by the institution of the presidency to implement the clauses of the CPA on Abyei.
The biggest challenge or hurdle that could have delayed the process was the demarcation of the Abyei border which has been successfully resolved by the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC).
The commission has finished demarcating the area of the Ngok Dinka chiefdoms transferred to Kordofan in 1905 and a full report has been compiled and raised to the presidency.
On an official level, sources closer to the palace revealed that the first vice-president and president of the Government of South Sudan has already tabled his recommendations to the president of the republic and he has since been waiting, along with the desperate Abyei IDPs (Internally Displaced People), for the presidency to meet and issue relevant resolutions.
There is nothing on the ground that could halt the presidency taking a belated action on Abyei.
The Ngok people need security, stability, rule of law, and above all human development; all of which are inexcusable frozen pending the formation of the executive council in anticipation of full implementation of the CPA.
The current tendency to form provisional governments in South Sudan before approving Southern Sudan constitution is a welcome step and should not exclude Abyei.
To avert creating vacuum in Abyei, prompt formation of an executive council would suffice to enliven hopes and aspirations of the Ngok people.