Sudanese delegation explores tribal leaders’ position over Abyei
April 9, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — A delegation from the security service visited last week the disputed Abyei area to prepare a report for the Sudanese presidency which will discuss the issue in the coming days.
A delegation headed by the deputy leader of the security and intelligence service, Maj Gen Mohamed Atta, visited Abyei and al-Mujlad on 5-6 April and held consultations with the Nazir of the Dinka Ngok tribe Kual Deng and the chief of Misariyah tribe, Babo Nimir on their positions over the implementation of the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC).
The delegation has to present a report on the issue to the meeting of the presidency next Thursday April] 12 to decide on, the Arabic language al-Sahafa reported.
Amir of Misariyah, Babo Nimir told Al-Sahafah that he had suggested setting up a joint council between the Dinka and Misariyah to occupy the administrative vacuum in Abyei, which resulted following the expulsion of the administrative unit from the area by civil society organizations linked to the Dinka.
He added that he had informed the security delegation that there was no chance his tribe would forgo the area although they could compromise on Abyei south of Bahr al-Arab in order to resolve the struggle.
In this regard, the Dinka nazir pointed out that he had informed Maj-Gen Atta’s committee that the Dinka were prepared to guarantee citizenship rights for any side or individual if implementing the Abyei protocol was a fundamental part of the committees efforts.
He further said that pastoral nomads do not affect Dinka rights in the area and they can guarantee their historical right of movement north-south according to the rainy seasons. Adding that “our problem remains with those who reject Dinka’s rights in Abyei”, they fear to loose the oil rich region if the south separate and this people avoid speaking about, he underlined.
He pointed out that the security official had conveyed the government’s adherence to implementing the Abyei protocol.
It seems that the adopted solution by the Sudanese presidency next week will be criticized in any case because Dinka demand to implement the ABC report and nothing else. The refusal of the National Congress Party to accept the report is considered as a flagrant violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
(ST)