Abyei roadmap resolves on two solutions – Sudan’s Machar
By James Gatdet Dak
June 13, 2008 (JUBA) — The Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan and Chairman of the SPLM’s Executive Political Committee, Dr, Riek Machar Teny said the Abyei Roadmap agreement which was recently struck between the two peace partners of the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has resolved on interim and permanent solutions in ending the region’s crisis.
Machar, while briefing the Council of Ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan on Friday said the interim solution for Abyei has resolved on the security arrangements, establishment of administration with interim boundaries for the region and return of more than a hundred thousand recently displaced people of Abyei to their homesteads.
He said the permanent solution will be sought through a professional and specialized international arbitration tribunal as agreed upon by the two parties.
Machar explained that a new composition of a Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) battalion consisting of troops from both sides will soon be deployed in Abyei and to be followed by redeployment of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) beyond Abyei administrative area for the purpose of demilitarizing the region.
He added that a police force will also be deployed in the area after consultations between the Minister of Interior in the Government of National Unity (GoNU) and the Minister of Internal Affairs in the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS).
The agreement also resolved that a force of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in Abyei area shall have free movement and access to the north and south of Abyei area to carry out its mandate as specified in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
Machar further explained that the Chief Administrator of Abyei area and his or her deputy shall be appointed by the Presidency after nomination by the SPLM and the NCP respectively.
He said the roadmap agreement also resolved that the Government of National Unity shall contribute 50% of its share in the oil revenue generated in the areas under arbitration while the Government of Southern Sudan shall contribute 25% of its share to the region.
The internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Abyei will begin to return to their homesteads after the completion of the security arrangements by the end of this month as per the roadmap agreement.
The SPLM Deputy Chairman pointed out that the two parties resolved to agree within one month on selection process of the arbitrators, referred issues for decision by the arbitration, procedure of arbitration, decision-making process and the enforcement of the award of the arbitration tribunal.
The roadmap agreement also stipulate that in case the two parties failed within one month to reach an agreement on the arbitration tribunal or terms of reference and rules of procedure for the arbitral process, the Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, shall within fifteen days, designate an institution and finalize the rules of procedures and terms of reference in accordance with the PCA rules and applicable international practices.
Machar told the Council of Ministers that the roadmap will enable the people of Abyei establish their administration based on the interim arrangements that will deliver basic services to the people after three years of stalemate on implementation of the Abyei Protocol.
He explained that the Abyei Boundary Commission (ABC) report, which was rejected by the NCP since July 2005, be subjected to the international arbitration in determining the correct boundaries as a permanent solution.
Heavy fighting erupted last month between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in the disputed oil rich region of Abyei resulting into hundreds of casualties, destruction of the whole town and displacement of more than a hundred thousand people according to UN sources.
(ST)