UN peacekeepers, Dinka Ngok leaders hold talks on Abyei
By Julius N. Uma
August 31, 2011 (JUBA) – A Dinka Ngok delegation from the dissolved Abyei administration last week held talks with the commander of the UN forces in the region nearly four months after North Sudan’s army invaded the disputed oil-producing region.
A referendum was supposed to decide the fate of Abyei but political disagreements on who could vote stalled the process. Last May the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) took the area by force and dismissed the civilian administration, in response, they say, to an attack by Southern armed groups.
In June the two sides agreed the allow Ethiopian peacekeepers under the UN to oversee SAF’s withdrawal and deploy in Abyei. The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has a stronger, Chapter VII, mandate unlike its predecessor the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).
The Dinka Ngok delegation comprised of several former ministers from the now defunct Abyei administration, according to a UNISFA statement, was led by Manio Rund. Also in attendance, it added, were about 60 Dinka Ngok chiefs.
During the meeting, which was held in Agok County, Tadesse Warede Tesfay, the UNISFA commander reportedly acknowledged the huge challenges of the peacekeeping mandate, but said he remains optimistic that his eventual 4,200 strong force will amicably resolve the dispute.
UNISFA, Tesfay reiterated, has already begun regular and robust patrolling of the Abyei area. He cited an incident where the Ethiopian peacekeepers reportedly saved two Dinka Ngok boys from being shot by SAF, when the duo allegedly entered the Abyei town in pursuit of their missing parents.
The current stalemate in the oil-producing region, Tesfay told the leaders, will only be resolved when SAF completely withdraws from Abyei as initially agreed.
The head of the UNISFA “expressed his intentions of creating suitable conditions for the return of the IDPs [internally displaced people] of Abyei and providing protection to them even if SAF fails to withdraw in a reasonable timeframe”.
On their part, the Ngok Dinka chiefs reportedly expressed deep concerns over the fate of thousands of internally displaced southerners and appealed to the Khartoum government to honor the provisions of the Addis Ababa agreement.
“They [Dinka Ngok chiefs] also asked UNISFA to a lay down clear and unambiguous timelines for the return of the IDPs,” the statement adds.
The chiefs further urged the northern Sudanese government to fully compensate all southerners who lost their properties in the aftermath of the hostilities that forced them out of their Abyei in May.
The peacekeepers’ commander, Sudan Tribune has learned, is scheduled to travel to Khartoum and Juba in the first week of September to discuss the Abyei issue with the leaders of the two countries.
South Sudan attained independence on July 9 after its population overwhelmingly opted for separation during a self-determination referendum held early this year.
The vote was a key prerequisite of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended over two decades of war between the North and South Sudan.
Abyei’s referendum was due to be held simultaneously. The CPA officially ended on July 9, with South Sudan’s secession and with it the end of the UN Mission in Sudan, as Khartoum refused to extend its mandate.
The UN was welcomed in Juba, however, with the new UN Mission in South Mission (UNMISS) established shortly after independence, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. UNMISS has a mandate for one year with the intention to renew it for further periods as required.
The mission will reportedly consist of up to 7,000 military personnel, including military liaison officers and staff officers, up to 900 civilian police personnel, including as appropriate formed units, and an appropriate civilian component, including technical, human rights, and investigation expertise.
(ST)
MINDED.DUDE
UN peacekeepers, Dinka Ngok leaders hold talks on Abyei
Where are Dinka Dominated SPLA ?
Why dont you liberate slave from ABYEI TOWN.
Ajok Garang
UN peacekeepers, Dinka Ngok leaders hold talks on Abyei
Minddude,you are a products of the Liberated slaves by Dinka with your mother and dad ,shut up …!!!! .Abyei is not benefiting to only Dinka if you are stupid or idiot …its for all us the South Sudanese…
you should not put rubish on this website coward…most of these people you abuse have died in your mother land and non of your relative died in their homeland ..the good thing you are doing is dorminating the NGOs in the country .shut up your ass.
jamuse
UN peacekeepers, Dinka Ngok leaders hold talks on Abyei
This was wrong vision of Deng Kuol Arop.
Let them die because few of them had participationed in SPLA during strugle and stayed only in Khartoum.
jamuse
UN peacekeepers, Dinka Ngok leaders hold talks on Abyei
Where are Abyei sons ?.
Plse separate with Arab and come for your land.
People Like JAmes Chol Malek and more others return to work in North and they claims to be southerners.Leave them alone for the love money than land.
Josh
UN peacekeepers, Dinka Ngok leaders hold talks on Abyei
Dr ajok garang.
why cant you go to rescue your brother from arabs.
Or you just want ministers job to feed your rectum with John Garand pictures.
acuil deng
UN peacekeepers, Dinka Ngok leaders hold talks on Abyei
Historically Abyei area, which is inhabited by nine sub-tribe “Dinka Nyok” is part of Bhar El ghazal state. It was the British colonials, who annexed Abyei to Southern Kurdufan in 1905, to satisfy the nomadic Misseria Arabs, and to give them access to the Dinka’s pasture and greenland.
It was SPLA under the late (John Garage), and with contribution from (Dinka Nyok) sons and daughters ,who joint the movement in huge masses in 1983, who put Abyei on the map once again.
Abyei area is definitely, the stumbling block between (Arab dominate North, and SPLA controlled ROSS). And could ignite another war between the two neighbors, if the issue didn’t have the attention of both sides.
And for president Salva Kiir, this is your “Abyei”, and could also be your “Kashmir”, and you need to win this time.
acuil deng
UN peacekeepers, Dinka Ngok leaders hold talks on Abyei
Correction: (John Garang)