Misseriya say opening of Abyei routes depends on South Sudan army redeployment

March 1, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Misseriya leaders said that the opening of the road leading to Abyei depends on the redeployment of the southern Sudanese army southern to the border of 1956 accusing the SPLM of rising tension in the area.

Clashes erupted between Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) and the nomadic Misseriya tribe, who go to Abyei for cattle-herding, during November and December of last year which claimed dozens of lives. Both sides accuse each other of initiating the violence. Recently members of the Misseriya tribe closed the route leading to Abyei.

Misseriya leaders staked the success of the efforts of the Joint Defence Board in opening route of Miram Al Mujlad Abyei al-Heglig and the route of Almirm Awil to the withdrawal of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) southern to Sudan border of 1956. They also want to ensure the safety of pastoralists within the state of North Bahr el-Ghazal

Bishta Mohammad Salem, Chairman of the Committee on tribal reconciliation between Misseriya and Dinka said that the SPLA forces are still present in the north of Abyei in the Makaire, Al-Na’ama and in east of Abyei in Luo.

He pointed out that SPLA forces stationed in those areas exerting pressure and harassment over non Dinka population.

Bishta added that a committee from the Joint Defence Board which is currently present in Al-Mujlad is in contact with parties and seeks to open the roads and defuse tension in the area.

He emphasized the need to wait for the decisions of the next presidency meeting and see its vision to solve the problem of Abyei.

However, Salem said that the SPLM position in favour of the Dinka Ngok and the interference of the SPLA besides them make it difficult to solve the problem of Abyei and undermine coexistence among tribes, calling for the need to make room for the tribal administrations in the region.

Last week Bishta said “If the outcome comes unfavorable to the Misseriya we will not carry arms but will try to get our rights through dialogue and peaceful means.”

Clashes erupted between Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) and the nomadic Misseriya tribe, who go to Abyei for cattle-herding, during November and December of last year which claimed dozens of lives. Both sides accuse each other of initiating the violence.

Under the protocol a commission known as the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC) was to “define and demarcate the area of the nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms transferred to Kordofan in 1905, referred to herein as Abyei Area”.

“The ABC report should be binding to all parties but the NCP rejected it and is looking for an alternative. This is not acceptable to us and we will stick the report” Kiir said.

However the president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir said that the NCP is committed to the Abyei Protocol only with the border of 1905. He further said the government is not concerned with the ABC report and that the latter is of no value to them.

(ST)