Sudan anxiously awaits tribunal ruling on Abyei
July 21, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) will render its decision today on the boundaries of the Sudanese region of Abyei disputed between North and South, which is hoped to put an end to a thorny issue that many had feared would prompt a return to civil war.
The arbitration agreement stipulates that the five members of the tribunal will be compensated at a rate of 600 Euros per hour (850 US dollars), in addition to any expenses incurred in connection with the arbitration.
To date, the SPLM and NCP were required to deposit 2,790,000 Euros (3,960,405 US dollars). Norway has donated 220,000 Euros (312,290 US dollars) and France donated 100,000 Euros (141,950 US dollars).
At the center of the dispute is the report submitted by the Abyei panel of experts formed in accordance with the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to define and demarcate the boundaries of the Nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms transferred from Bahr el Ghazal to Kordofan in 1905.
The NCP objected to the report saying the experts exceeded their mandate with some Sudanese officials privately accusing two of the commission members, former US ambassador Donald Patterson and Douglas Johnson of bias towards the SPLM.
If the PCA determines that the Abyei panel exceeded its mandate, then it shall proceed to define the borders of the region. Each side is particularly interested in whether they are awarded areas containing the oil fields and the grazing ground.
The citizens of Abyei consisting of the Arab Misseriya tribe and the Dinka Ngok both feel strongly about the ownership of the area. A year ago, the competing claims over the area exploded in violence killing dozens of people and displacing thousands.
The UN peacekeepers have sent reinforcement to the region in anticipation of the decision consisting of Kenyan, Indian and Zambian soldiers, according the government sponsored Sudanese Media Center (SMC) website.
The UNSG Special Representative for Sudan Ashraf Qazi told reporters yesterday that the peacekeepers will resort to force if necessary to protect civilians.
The NCP and SPLM pledges to honor the ruling made by the tribunal and are reportedly have jointly crafted plans to implement the decision.
The US, UK, Canada and UN Security Council (UNSC) have urged both sides to abide by the decision.
Some media reports in Khartoum have suggested that the court’s decision have been leaked. However, SPLM and NCP officials both vehemently denied that they have any knowledge of the ruling which the court announced that it will remain confidential.
(ST)
MADIT MAJAK CHOL
Sudan anxiously awaits tribunal ruling on Abyei
Dear PCA, be care with your decision because Abyei is belong to southern Sudan not North. Please don’t make wrong decision because of oil in Abyei, but people who are in Abyei are Dinka and they are belong to south. Since the civil war began in south Abyei is the reason why many people lost their life. People in Abyei are not Arab, but they are Dinkas. my follew southern, this is the beginning of our freedom let us pray that Abyei will be gaven to south.
John Chol
Sudan anxiously awaits tribunal ruling on Abyei
Hey over there !
Don’t be panic over there.This is the last hour of dying horse. for sure, the issue of Abyei of whether it belongs to the south or North Sudan will finish today instantly. It has been a song for millions and thousands of people all over the the world for a years. The king of Hague Artibitration court is now holding a knife, ready to cut the throat at …….?
Just keep your ears open ! but let the people of Abyei not worry because the land is already belong to them historically. the Arabs came as a traders of salt, ivory and balla (date tree) in 19th centuries. I wonder what do they want to tell us today ? President Omar, please Don’t be worry too much only for Abyei, we are here to claim Khartuom soon as our border.
My message to the southerners, keep your guns and eyes straight to Abyei but do not prepare for war unless for self defend.Peace is good all the time Amen
John Chol.
Joseph Chol De Makuei
Sudan anxiously awaits tribunal ruling on Abyei
Dear Southerner,
Today we are waiting for the rulling of ABC about the above mentioned region, which has a very important resources. this region is belong to south if the rulling is for South favour, even though is demarcated to North it can also be belong to South by all means. we understand that this place was for Ngok not Arabs.
The fact is that there is no land for Arab in the Sudan in general; even north Sudan is for Blacks “NOT” belong to these migrants from Gezira Arabia. people must read the History of Sudan and take notes on who is a real Sudanese and who is an Arabs.
We are not fearing of any thing since God know our right, we will manage it, we did for the South as well as whole Sudan, and lastly Abyei is now our point of references.
Hillary B.M.L,M
Sudan anxiously awaits tribunal ruling on Abyei
If the demarcation favor South, i will send very big ashming
words to ASHAY AND ATAIF M. ALHASSAN where ever they are, and a very big congratulation word to every Southerner with exception of those who were slaves of Mondukuru tutung Kisara.
Deng Chol Malual
Sudan anxiously awaits tribunal ruling on Abyei
Of course the PCA ruling should be welcome in good face if it has liberalise the truth as it is.
The GOSS-SSLA should not only sponsor the court issues but has to sponsor the SPLA for that anticipated right to be protected permanently.
My dear Southerners, No Development Without Rights Protection.
So in the GOSS-SSLA MPS should prioritise the Rights Protection Development other than “buildings”.
Thank you,
Deng Chol Malual.
Moses Kur Akech
Sudan anxiously awaits tribunal ruling on Abyei
Read this article from BBC
…Instead it ruled that several areas – including the Heglig oilfied – were not part of Abyei.
Although The Hague court was deciding where Abyei’s borders lay rather than who owned the land, analysts say the ruling was crucial in determining the ownership of the oilfields.
Abyei’s inhabitants will be asked in a referendum in 2011 whether they want to be a part of north or south Sudan – and analysts say they are likely to opt for a union with the south.
By reducing the size of Abyei compared with the 2005 proposals, the court has effectively awarded more land and mineral wealth to the north.
The BBC’s James Copnall in the capital, Khartoum, says the reaction on the ground to the judges’ ruling will be a key test of the peace between north and south.
‘Victory for peace’
Dirdeiry Mohamed Ahmed, the head of the northern government delegation at The Hague, called the decision a victory.
I do believe this has been a win-win decision for both sides
Ashraf Qazi
UN special envoy to Sudan
Could clashes herald return to war?
Uneasy peace in ghost town
“We welcome the fact that the oilfields are now excluded from the Abyei area, particularly the Heglig oil field,” the Associated Press quoted him as saying.
The south’s delegate Riak Machar, vice president in southern Sudan’s semi-autonomous government, described the decision as “balanced” and said he was committed to respecting it.
“I think this is going to consolidate peace in Sudan. It is a victory for the Sudanese people and a victory for peace,” he said.
The issue was referred to The Hague last year after clashes broke out in Abyei town, killing about 100 people and forcing tens of thousands to flee.
UN peacekeepers beefed up their presence in Abyei this week amid fears that a controversial ruling could spark violence.
Douglas Johnson, who was part of the international panel who drew up the 2005 border proposals, said the Hague agreement had respected ethnic boundaries as well as north and south rivalries.
“Each side can say they were right about something, and each side can come away feeling that they have been given something from this arrangement,” he told the BBC World Service.
Rights ‘guaranteed’
The area is home to Arab cattle herders known as the Misseriya who are loyal to the north, and the Dinka Ngok, part of the largest ethnic group of the south.