Abyei chief administrator dismiss his resignation amid tension

By Ngor Arol Garang

December 14, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Abyei chief administrator, Brigadier General Arop Mayak Montoc, has finally broke long silence with dismissal of allegations that he had resigned accusing two members of his cabinet to have shifted administrative differences to a political tension in recent months.

“There are individuals, who have taken internal administrative differences as alternatives to advancing their own agendas, but they will not succeed,” he warned saying these concerns are in-house matters.

He went on to say internal differences are becoming major concerns to two of his cabinet members than how to address issues pertaining to Abyei which attracts international attentions.

The official who spoke to Sudan Tribune from Juba said he had approached SPLM Chairman Salva Kiir Mayardit who wears other hats as President of the semi autonomous government of South Sudan and another a First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan, for possible settlement before traveling to Khartoum on Thursday.

“It is this meeting which I had with the President that had been turned into resignation,” he said emphasizing that what he discussed with the President was how to settle these issues with immediacy.

Asked about allegations that some members of his cabinet have threatened to resign if he or all of them are not removed, he said resignation is never a general. “It is personal decision and so I am not aware of resignation from other members of the cabinet.”

“If there are individuals willing to resign, it is their democratic and civil right to do so but should be linked to administrative differences because efforts to resolve them are being pursued,” he added.

In October, Abyei chief administrator issued administrative order arresting two of his Director Generals in the departments of finance and physical infrastructure following financial scandal allegations and defiance to administrative instructions.

A charge officials denied saying have done nothing wrong to warrant arrest which turned nasty when police claimed to have received instructions to beat the officials and threw them into the back of the vehicles like criminals.

(ST)