Abyei’s paramount chief accuses Misseryia of violating Kadugli agreement
January 28, 2011 (JUBA) – Kuol Deng Kuol, a Dinka Ngok paramount chief from Abyei, an oil-producing region straddling northern and southern Sudan, accused Friday the Misseryia tribe of violating Kadugli agreement, which the two communities signed independently without participation of the governments from the two regions or external mediation.
During referendum on self determination for the people of south Sudan conducted from January 9 to 15 members of the Misseriya clashed with police from Abyei Area Administration, predominantly joined forces representing Sudan’s north and south, in three different locations between 7 and 10 January.
The clash was allegedly triggered by reports and allegations circulated in the media that the Dinka Ngok tribe was preparing to hold a unilateral referendum to return the region to South Sudan from Kordofan in central Sudan to which was transferred in 1905 by the former colonial power Britain.
In an attempt to stop armed confrontation between rival tribes over the ownership of the territory, traditional leaders, representing the two sides, independently signed an agreement in Kadugli town, capital of south Kordofan State on 13 January. This agreement was later followed by another internal agreement by officials from the two regions, witnessed by the United Nations.
The key measures of the two agreements included, the provision of security for Abyei by deploying more Joint Integrated Units (JIU), ensuring the freedom of migration for Misseriya nomads to Abyei and further south; and providing security for the movement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) returning to Abyei and further to South Sudan.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Abyei, Kuol said members of the Misseriya tribe along the borderline continues to lay road blocks and stopping vehicles entering the region from the north following clashes early January when two sides exchanged fires in three different locations, leaving scores of people from the two sides dead and several others wounded.
“The road linking the north with the south through Abyei remains closed. Misseriya are laying road blocks. They are stopping vehicles entering and passing through Abyei to the South,” Kuol told Sudan Tribune on Friday. “This is a clear violation of Kadugli agreement in which we agreed to open road to allow movement of goods and our people without threats and intimidations,” he said.
He said that the road blocks have caused food prices to increase beyond the ceiling that ordinary people can afford in the region.
“Because of road blocks imposed by the Misseriya, which in turned affected movement of the commercial vehicles with goods, local prices have increased indiscriminately. You find shops almost empty. Prices for little available items have been increased beyond ceiling which the ordinary people can afford. I am getting reports from the local trade union that prices have increased. That what used to be for one pound in the past can be bought at two to three pound depending on the level of understanding,” he adds.
Bagat Mijak, another chief from Abyei also confirmed the closure of the road and increment of local prices in the area. Roads have remained closed.
“Nobody is coming through Nyama. The Misseriya are making a condition to allow their cattle come for water and grazing but it is up to them to see where their interest is. For us, we will not allow them come with their cattle without respecting terms of the agreement we signed with in Kadugli,” said Mijak, adding he knew the Misseryia would not honor the agreement.
“I knew Misseriya would not agree to stop blocking roads because they are not new to me. They are the same Misseriya with whom we have signed many agreements without success. They say one thing today when they are in weak position and another tomorrow when they feel they are in strong position that they do not need cooperation,” said Mijak.
In 2005 the north and south signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ending two decades of civil war, promising the south a referendum on whether to split from Sudan and form their own country. Voting ended on January 15, with initial results indicating a huge vote in favor of independence.
Under the deal Abyei was supposed to hold its own referendum to decide whether it would remain in as part of the north or join, what is likely to be, a newly independent south. However, the demand of Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) that the Misseriya, who enter Abyei for a few months each year, be given full voting rights in the poll.
The former rebels that govern the south the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), say that only the Dinka Ngok should be allowed to vote.
Tensions have worsened recently in the north-south border region due to the failure for the Abyei referendum to take place, and for the two parties to reach an agreement on the future of region, demarcating the border and post referendum arrangements.
Speaking from Abyei, a member of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), who declined to be named as they were not allowed to speak to the media, confirmed the closure of the road for commercial vehicles and that local prices have increased in the region.
“I have not seen commercial vehicles coming from the north since the violence broke out early this month. Our patrol police and military observers have also not been to move freely in the area.”
The official said that the security situation in the area had not improved repeating the observation by many analysts that Abyei remains a potential flash point for the resumption of north-south conflict as the south prepares for independence.
Reacting to the interview, Rahma Abdul Rahman, Al Nur, a deputy chief administrator of the Abyei Area representing Missiriya in the power sharing arrangement and who was expelled by the local youth group acting in collaboration with civil society organizations denied that roads are blocked.
“No Missiriyia blocking roads to Abyei. No roads are blocked. They are opened. UN forces are moving between Kadugli and Abyei. If they were closed, how would they be moving,” asked Rahma.
However the Misseriya have accused the Dinka Ngok of not keeping their side of the deal.
Hassan Musa, one of the leaders of the Missiriya in an interview with Sudan Tribune from Muglad, a towns in west of South Kordofan predominantly inhabited by the Misseiriya tribe, asked why they would allow the road to be opened while the Dinka Ngok have refused to allow them go with their cattle to access water and grazing areas south of Abyei.
“They say Missiriya have closed roads and that we have violated the agreement we signed with them in Kadugli. They say we do not respect agreements, which agreements,” asked Musa accusing the SPLM of arming the Dinka Ngok to fight them.
“We have never violated an agreement. We have never signed any agreement with Dinka Ngok to violate. I do not remember any, can you tell me which agreement they told you we have violated,” asked Musa.
He said Missiriya have no interest and intention to wage war against the Dinka , who he described as brothers.
“We and the Dinka Ngok have always been friends living and eating together as one and the same people. We have never had differences to be settled through agreement. Our issues always used to be settled by our chiefs. We have never seen external mediations from neighboring states insides. We used to settle using local mechanisms in the integrated courts shared by Amir Deng Majok and Babo Nimir because we look at ourselves as one people,” he explained.
“The problem is now coming with the SPLM arming the Dinka Ngok and tells them, look, your land is being taken by Misseriya. Which land? This Abyei belongs to neither the Dinka Ngok nor the Missiriya. It belongs to all of us. Ask Zachariah Atem Fiyen, the deputy speaker of the Abyei legislative council and he will tell you. He is the only Dinka Ngok from Abyei who can tell the truth that Abyei belongs to both Missiriya and the Dinka Ngok,” he said.
Sudan Tribune was not able to reach Zachariah Atem for comment on Friday.
(ST)