Fighting in Sudan Abyei to be investigated
May 25, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Both sides involved in the bloody fighting in Sudan’s oil-rich flashpoint region of Abyei have agreed to an investigation into the incident, the U.N. representative to Sudan said Sunday.
Special Representative of the Secretary General in Sudan Ashraf Qazi told reporters that the head of U.N. forces in Sudan will investigate the fierce fighting in the border region between the north and south and prepare a report at the next meeting of the two sides.
“Both sides have agreed to an investigation into what caused the incident and to take action any individual held accountable or held responsible for that,” he said.
Qazi journeyed to the devastated town of Abyei Friday where a week of clashes between northern government soldiers and former southern rebels resulted in almost 90,000 people in the area fleeing their homes, and at least 22 dead soldiers.
The fighting has strained the 2005 peace agreement that ended Sudan’s two-decade old bloody north-south civil war that killed more than 2 million people.
Abyei lies just north of the disputed boundary line with southern Sudan in a volatile region that remains contested despite the peace agreement. It is coveted by both north and south because of its oil resources and green fields used for grazing cattle.
“It is important to investigate how this happened, why it happened, why the command and control chain failed,” he said. “All this needs to be taken into account, not with the idea of holding one party or the other responsible.”
Qazi also reaffirmed his belief that both the north and south were committed to the peace agreement.
(AP)
Gatwech
Fighting in Sudan Abyei to be investigated
Bravo Dr. Riek Machar,
You are a fire extinguisher after such crisis. Last year when the SPLM/A was in crisis with the National Congress Party that almost dragged the nation back to a full scale war, and after the SPLM withdrew all its Ministers from Khartoum, you were the first person who went to Khartoum Palace to face el-Beshir and Taha. That move of yours after you boldly decided to fly to Khartoum despite security fears of escalating fighting between North and South helped greatly in defusing that tension. You extinguished that fire which almost engulfed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The current escalating fighting in Abyei between the SPLA forces and those of Khartoum’s forces would eventually lead to a full scale war unless somebody like yourself goes to Khartoum to put off that burning fire in the Presidency.
But wait a minute, what is the incompetent Salva Kiir doing in Juba? The Abyei issue in the CPA is supposed to be handled by the three-man Presidency in Khartoum (Beshir, Kiir and Taha) where Kiir is number two member. This is not supposed to be the responsibility of the Vice President of GOSS and Deputy Chairperson of the SPLM. Kiir was known for his bravery and courage during the war, eventhough his forces used to disperse, but has now turned out to be coward during the peace implmentation. Beshir and Taha need a tough person who is armed with skillful and reasoning debate and using a lot of pressure on them. Kiir seems to have abandoned his seat in Khartoum as the First Vice President of the Republic in fear of facing Beshir and Taha in the national capital. This is a big disadvantage to the SPLM/A and an added advantage to the National Congress Party.
Mr Point
Abyei lies just north of the disputed boundary line with southern Sudan
Sudan Tribune!!!!!
When you make statements like “Abyei lies just north of the disputed boundary line with southern Sudan ”
Won’t you please tell us exactly where this disputed border line lies. A map would clear things up.