Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
September 29, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Members of the Arab Misseriya tribe today marched to the local United Nations offices and handed over a letter in which they decried suggestions that they could be excluded from the vote on the region’s future.
A referendum is supposed to be held in Abyei next year on whether it should join the north or south. However, a deadlock over the composition of that referendum’s electoral commission means it is unlikely to happen on time, if at all.
Last year the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) redrew the boundaries of Abyei, ceding key oilfields to north Sudan but gave the South most of the land including Abyei town which has huge areas of fertile land and one significant oilfield. The borders have yet to be demarcated to comply with the court’s verdict because of threats leveled by the Misseriya.
The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) in control of the South has interpreted the ruling as meaning that the cattle-herding Misseriya tribe have no right to vote in areas assigned by the PCA to the Dinka Ngok.
Mukhtar Babo Nimr, the chief of the Misseriya’s told the government run Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) website that today’s demonstrations were meant to protest proposals made by the U.S. and also remarks by the SPLM chairman Salva Kiir on their exclusion from voting.
Nimr stressed that the tribe rejects the PCA ruling and leaving out the Misseriya from the referendum process.
“After today we will not recognize what came out of the Hague because in our view it is an agreement of [two] parties and not a ruling of a court,” he told SMC.
In a separate interview with Reuters, Nimr threatened further measures should their demands not be met.
“If they don’t accept our votes in the referendum there will be no voting,” Nimr said.
“We will use force to achieve our rights and we will use weapons against anyone who tries to stop us from voting in the referendum….If they don’t meet our demands then we will set everything alight. If that leads to war then so be it.” he warned.
The Misseriya fear if the south secedes and the north-south border becomes an international boundary, they will lose grazing rights to the land and their livelihoods.
South Sudan president has pledged in the past that the Misseriya will continue to enjoy grazing rights.
The tribe is heavily armed and some tribesmen were recruited by the northern government to fight the south as a proxy militia during the two decades north-south conflict.
Analysts believe unresolved disputes between local communities such as the Misseriya could flare up and drag the north and south back into war.
On Tuesday, the U.S. said that the SPLM and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) met last weekend on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss the Abyei issue.
“We thought that they were useful meetings. They established a foundation for resolving the Abyei challenge,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Phillip J. Crowley told reporters.
The meeting included U.S. special envoy Scott Gration and U.S. Assistant Secretary of state for African affairs Johnnie Carson.
Crowley said the two sides were due to meet again next month in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa “and we would expect that the parties should come to the meeting prepared to reach an agreement on Abyei.”
John Prendergast, head of advocacy group Enough welcomed the U.S. new push on Abyei.
“Direct and deepening diplomatic engagement by the U.S. in attempting to break the Abyei deadlock significantly enhances the chances of peace in Sudan,” Prendergast said. “Maintaining this level of involvement in support of the African Union-led process is key to preventing the resumption of war between the North and South.”
(ST)
Deng Thiak Adut
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
I hope this message will alarms the Southern Sudanese Government.
Kur William
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
What a barbaric community you just came yesterday from unknown place and step up to be landlord shame on you.
My dear fellows let me tell you Southerners are not like before we are united now to defends our territory from you migrants,
how horroble to hear that the newcomers has tell owner of the house to recognise them as contenders otherwise they will use forec to evict him.
For me I would say nothing we can tell you right now before the time has come as stipulate under CPA that in 9 /1 /2011 we are going not recognise non Southerners in all our territories.
Please Nimer shut your mouth and waits what going to happen you been keen for war and it is at the door. Kur
Biliu
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
GOSS, has insured the Misseriya that they will still maintaining their grazing rights within the Abyei area, yet they are demanding what’s not theirs and threatening to use arms against anyone who will deprive them from voting on the Abyei referendum… CPA is clear and no mistakes on that, southerners are the only eligible voters for the referendum, and as we know Misseriya is not one of Sothern’s tribes, but land extorters planted by North in the Region of Abyei…besides, the PCA has awarded Abyei to its rightful owners, Dinka Ngok..what rights Misseryia are talking about?!! I hope Misseryia will learn the lesson, in the past they have been used by the North to kill, displace and commit genocide against residents of Abyei, now the same north is trying to use them to sabotage the whole peace process between South and the Nroth…at the end…they will be the one to pay the price.
Malou Luiny Joseph
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
The Arabs should this time be made to understand that the peace that people longed fro is not a peace for Southerners only. It is for the whole Sudan and if part of the Sudan is not happy with peace, then let them know that the southerners did not surrender neither did they ask for reconciliation.
We did not surrender to the Arabs. So they should not threaten us about a fight that may come up in Abyei issue.
Abyei is 100% Dinka territory and not a misserya land.
Let Bashir use his misserya again and we will be ready to deal with his misserya and whoever supports him.
South Sudan woyeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Abyei woyeee!!!!!!!!!!
CatBlue
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
Yes of course, Ayei is South 100%. It will also give clear picture to Ayei residents so that they will have to know their position before voting minutes come. Do not be confused by whether you belong to North or South as other people of Ayei who do not know where are they are going to demand. Your parents are your parents no matter how bad they are. South Sudan is the mother land and we have to remain in it.
DHARCHEP
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
It is obviously known that Abyei belong to Dinka Jok of Abyei. There is no doubt in this. Arabs are just attaching themselves just because that the have power and at the same time they are being empowered by the family of Deng Kuol Arop Biong. I’m really worried indeed about the others Eight sections of Dinka Abyei, but the other section of Abyei call Abior in which all Deng Kuol Arop Biong family belong is already been converted by the Arabs and that is why when one of Deng Kuol Arop Biong family went to Khartoum and look for a job, they get it right away because Omar Beshir is working with them hand to hand.
For Dinka Ngok to be free, they have to remove those of Deng Kuol Arop Biong family who block the door for others Eight Sections of Abyei who want the fruit of life. Now, where is Deng Aloor Kuol who pretended himself that Heglig(Toor Aliiny) of Dinka Ruweng Community of Biemnom belong to Abyei and at the same time he denied that Toor(Aliiny) is not Abyei territory, but it is belong to Unity State after Heglig(Toor Aliiny) is given to the North? Shame on Deng Aloor Kuol. I have never seen a leader without philosopy like this. Deng Aloor Kuol can not said that “the land was grab by the Arabs of the North anyway”. Why did he allow the Arabs to grab the land and he was one of the Southern Sudanese figure in the demarcation of Abyei?
I’m so sorry to said this, but the point has to be told.
By Dharchep Miyar Dharchep, a man from DINKA RUWENG COMMUNITY of BIEMNOM in Unity State.
Laat Ayie Jal
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
Dear Southern Sudanese;
Chief Nimir is trying to turn the clock backward. He basically tries to a alert the Southerners of the events of late 80th and mid 90th in which our countrymen, women and children were massacre in Eld’ain and Babanosa not to mention the hostilities they carry out in Northern Bahr-Elgazal and beyond. During that time our Southern brothers in that end lost human dignity and yet we Southerners remain patients saying that Misseriya people are our brothers simply because we were the one accommodated it you in the area. But if you develop attitude you would be wiped like a dog. Babu; we have not forgot the past; it is good you started and we will finish it. Don’t you be fool by Jalaba; they have to fight so many fronts this time; refresh you mind first and hear, see what is around you…our people in Abeyi will be arm like you now and more over we are leaving our businesses and coming to point finger at you.
telfajbago
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
Misseriya tribe should hold there leaders accountable first for selling them over to the regime before making empty threats. Babo Nimr; history will remember you as one of self-centered, mindless and opportunist tribal leader who failed to do his home work well. You shamefully misused the trust of your people and let them be used as militias to fight regime’s wars in every corner of Sudan, while you pocketed the price .By so doing you miserably wrote your people out of the map of Abyei and the entire Sudan. Stop crying and prepare yourself to carry your cows on your back after the referendum.
Thondet Manyang
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
Dear Southerners from,
It is immpossible that Arabs divided themselves and cofuse you saying that they are also from Abyei since Abyei is in Dinka Language not in Arabic.Therefore they shouldn’t pretend to be in Ngok area since they are gatherers and have only three months there as they claim. God help Ngok Deng Kuol from these evils!!!!!!
Kur
Tensions simmer over Sudan’s Abyei as Misseriya tribe threaten use of force
Well, use of force to take somebody’s land may sound good to the ones who want to gain land that does not belong to them, but it will never be that simple. No one else will sit in Abyei other than Dinka Ngok. I think Nimir knows that this fact is not negotiable.
Kur