UN and UK express concern over clashes in the Abyei area

January 12, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, has condemned the loss of life in clashes in and around the contested border region of Abyei.

At least 46 are reported to have died in various incidents since Friday, coinciding with the start of voting in southern Sudan’s self determination referendum, including ten southerners returning to the south in a convoy of buses crossing the north-south border on Monday.

A press release from Ban’s spokesperson called on the two parties to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement to resolve the issue peacefully:

‘The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the recent reports of clashes in the Abyei area. The Secretary-General condemns the reported loss of life and calls upon the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) leadership to maintain calm and ensure that this issue is resolved through peaceful dialogue.’

Both the Misseriya nomadic group and the local security services accuse the other of starting the conflict. The SPLM, who govern the south, say that the Misseriya attacked their positions and police stations after they heard a false rumor that the Dinka Ngok were planning to declare that they were annexing Abyei to join the south.

Abyei was due to hold a referendum beginning on January 9 as part of the 2005 peace deal but the Khartoum-based NCP’s insistence that the Misseriya, who enter Abyei for a few months each year with their cattle, be allowed to vote, caused a stalemate and preparations or the poll never properly began.

In response to the clashes the ‘UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has intensified its patrolling activities on the ground and is on standby to reinforce its peacekeeping presence if the need arises’, the press release from the UN Secretary General’s office said.

The UN mission met with representatives from the SPLM and NCP in Abyei on Tuesday in an attempt ‘to defuse tensions and prevent further escalation’.

The Secretary-General has urged both sides to resume and conclude negotiations on the status of Abyei as a matter of priority.

British Foreign Minister William Hague said on Tuesday that he welcomed and supported the efforts of the United Nations and Sudanese leaders to calm tensions.

He said that the UK was monitoring the situation on the ground very closely and urge the people of Abyei and their leaders to exercise restraint.

‘We urge restraint at this critical time on the ground and encourage the local authorities and community leaders to cooperate in a peaceful manner’, the statement said.

Hague, however praised the peaceful conduct of the referendum in southern Sudan.

Hastily arranged talks, involving the UN, NCP and SPLM, that began on Tuesday and are due to resume on Wednesday in an effort to resolve the dispute and stop the situation from escalating.

(ST)