SPLM calls for political solution to Abyei row

Nov 8, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan People’s Liberation Movement called for a political solution to the Abyei issue through negotiation and dialogue with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), a SPLM official affirmed.

The State Minister at the Sudanese presidency, Telar Deng, rejected referring the case to the constitutional court saying that the SPLM is keen to resolve Abyei issue within a political framework with the NCP.

Telar indicated that the resolution of Abyei row is a joint responsibility of the SPLM and the NCP.

The minister insinuate that the jurisdictional option will represent a lost of time. He said that the legal procedure before the constitutional court will take long time.

This statement comes after a statement made by Deng Alor a Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, SPLM, leader and federal cabinet minister when he had warned to sue the Sudanese presidency before the constitutional court to obligate it to implement Abyei protocol signed by the NCP and the SPLM on May 26, 2004.

According to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) “upon presentation of the final report (by the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC)), the presidency shall take necessary action to put the special administrative status of Abyei area into immediate effect.”

Since the presentation of the ABC report on July 14, 2005, the presidency has refused to implement the recommendations of the report.

With the question of oil revenue transparency, the row on Abyei, a rich oil region, illustrates shift in the nature of the conflict since the signing of the CPA. The sources of troubles between the two partners now are less politic than economic, said an analyst.

“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”, said Alor in last May.

(ST)