Sudanese partners agree to deploy 1000 police in Abyei

July 9, 2008 (JUBA) — Sudan’s peace partners have agreed to deploy 1000 police officers in the disputed area of Abyei, where fighting in May posed the biggest test for a fledgling peace, a UN official said Wednesday.

In accordance with the roadmap signed on June 8 to resolve the dispute over the finding of Abyei Boundary Commission, the National Congress Party and the Sudan people’s Liberation Movement agreed to deploy a police force in the area after consultation between the National Minister of Interior and Minister of Internal affairs of Government of Southern Sudan.

“The Abyei police commissioner has been appointed, Colonel Luka Deng Kual, and will be moving to Abyei this week,” UN regional coordinator for southern Sudan, David Gressly, told journalists.

“The parties have also agreed to deploy 1,000 joint integrated police units comprising equal numbers from both north and south,” he added.

“The phased training and deployment of the first 200 joint integrated police unit will start as soon as those from the south arrive in Abyei,” said Gressly.

The UN coordinator said 379 police officers from the north had already arrived in Abyei and that colleagues from the south would arrive by the end of the week.

The two parties also deployed a joint battalion of around 700 soldier in the area while they withdrawn their troops from Abyei after some delay with regard to the scheduled planning.

All these security arrangements precede the return of the 50 thousands displaced people following the heavy fighting between the two parties last May.

The parties now have to form the interim administration which should be chaired by a responsible designated by the SPLM. Different reports confirm that the chances of Edward Lino are compromised to be appointed at the head of the area.

The clashes between SAF and SPLA troops in May killed at least 89 people.

(ST)