Sudan’s Abyei the biggest challenge to CPA – US envoy
By James Gatdet Dak
May 30, 2008 (JUBA) – The United States of America’s Special Envoy to Sudan, Richard Williamson on Friday said Abyei remains a powder cake that could implode and destroy whatever is achieved in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), adding that the disputed region has become the biggest challenge to the January 2005 peace accord.
Williamson, whose government initiated the Abyei protocol back in the Naivasha peace talks in Kenya, urged the international community partners to play a great role to help resolve the crisis in Abyei.
The American Envoy expressed his government’s sympathy with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Abyei and said he would travel to the area soon to assess the current situation on the ground.
He commended President Salva Kiir Mayardit for what he termed as “show of great leadership” by containing the situation and not escalating the fighting in the area.
The Envoy further explained that the American government would continue consultations with the Government of Southern Sudan on how to improve relations between US government and the Government of National Unity (GoNU) in Khartoum.
“The government of the United States of America has common interests with the Government of Southern Sudan,” Williamson told the press.
In another news development, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) said it is conducting consultations with the National Congress Party regarding the jurisdiction of the United Nations in Abyei.
It criticized the UN Mssion in Sudan, saying that the properties of the Abyei civilians have been looted and the UN did nothing to protect them.
Speaking to the press, a leading member in the SPLM and Minister for Presidential Affairs in the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Luka Biong Deng, said that his movement is looking for options to be rendered to the United Nations in order to be able to protect civilians according to Chapter Seven of the UN charter.
The United Nations meanwhile did not confirm or denied that it received an official memo from the SPLM regarding its request for the UN to use Chapter Seven in protecting civilians.
The Deputy Spokesperson of the United Nations Mission in Sudan, Khouider Zerook, told the press that the UN is still discussing with the parties involved in the Abyei fighting in order to resolve the crisis in the area.
Mr. Zerook said that the UN Mission in Sudan is hoping that the two parties will respect whatever they agree on in the Ceasefire Political Committee.
(ST)