Sudan to demarcate Abyei boundary in September – official

By Manyang Mayom

July 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s foreign minister, Deng Alor Kuol, has confirmed that the demarcation of Abyei boundary will start next September under supervision of international experts.

Addressing they large gathering of thanksgiving mass at St. Matthew’s Catholic Cathedral in Khartoum on Monday, July 27, 2009, organized by the Abyei community for the return of their land, Mr. Alor who is also a senior member of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) said though the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) was a –“win-win-decision” — only that the Dinka Ngok lost part of their land to the Misseriya Arab, the fact that the SPLM accepted in order to avoid relapse to with Northern Sudan because of the land.

The SPLM leading member described the tribunal ruling on Abyei as “successful” because both sides the SPLM and the National Congress Party were neither winners not losers. He added that the PCA verdict accepted by the two sides solved a major problem that would derail the country back to war.

“We have lost parts [of the land] but we are committed to this decision and in September demarcation of Abyei boundary will start on the ground in Abyei.”

“There will be surveyors: two from the SPLM, two from the NCP and the Government of National Unity and international experts; America will send its experts and they will go on the ground and will use coordinates for drawing landmarks, these are straight lines and some people say they should be roads but there will be landmarks and this will happen in September,” Alor said.

He declared that a permanent administration will be established soon in order to run the affairs of Abyei area over the remaining eighteen months leading to the referendum.

He also stressed that the new administration will be charged with huge task of preparing the people of Abyei for the 2011 referendum in which the local population will decide whether Abyei belongs to Bahr El-Ghazal or to Southern Kordofan.

Minister Alor reiterated his party’s commitment on behalf of the Dinka Ngok asserting that the Dinka Ngok will respect the PCA verdict and will allow the Misseriya to cross the Dinka Ngok land for grazing and watering.

Deng said that “We have no problem with the Misseriya, as stipulated in the agreement, the Misseriya will be allowed to pass through Abyei on their journey with their cows searching for grazing and nobody will prevent them but they must know that there is a boundary”.

The south Sudan authorities say Misseriya should disarm before to enter in southern states in order to cope with the disarmament campaigns carried in the semi-autonomous territory.

He also urged all people of Southern Sudan living in Northern Sudan including the people of Abyei to return to their homes of their own origin in Southern before referendum for the self determination of Southern Sudan line up for year 2011.

Deng affirmed that Governor of Khartoum State, Dr. Abdurrahman Alkibir has accepted the request of the First Vice President, Salva Kiir Mayardit to help transport the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Khartoum to Southern Sudan including Abyei area.

(ST)