Row over Abyei boundary could lead to war – SPLM official

Mar 20, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Deng Alor a Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, SPLM, leader and federal cabinet minister has warned that the dispute over the boundaries of Abyei enclave might make the country slide back to war.

“The NCP is rejecting the report not because of conflict between Dinka and Missenya but because of oil reserves in Abyei in case it is annexed to the south if the south separates”, Alor said.

Adding that the first vice-president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, was met with obstacles when he attended a discussion of the matter with the president and second vice-president.

The NCP came up with a new proposal to establish a transitional administration in Abyei but did not recognize the boundaries as demarcated by the report, Alor said.

“Abyei caused the war waged by Anyanya in 1983”, he said.

He stated that anti-report people should forget about their views because the report was based on historical facts.

(Khartoum Monitor/ST)