Sudan criticizes UN chief’s statements on Abyei
December 17, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government on Saturday criticized statements made by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the disputed border region of Abyei.
A referendum was supposed to be held last January but was called off as no agreement could be reached on who should be eligible to vote in the plebiscite that will express the residents’ will on whether Abyei will join north or south Sudan.
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 to allow Ethiopian peacekeepers under the UN to oversee SAF’s withdrawal and deploy in Abyei. The force was named the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
But Khartoum later insisted that its forces will not withdraw until UNISFA deployment is complete and an administration is put in place.
The UN Secretary General in his recent report on Abyei called on the two countries to withdraw their forces from the region.
“I therefore reiterate my urgent call on the two governments to withdraw their forces immediately from the area and demonstrate the political will necessary to reach a compromise on the outstanding issues related to the establishment of the Abyei Administration and Legislative Council,” Ban said.
But the Sudanese government rejected any suggestions of being occupiers of Abyei.
“The army is present north of the 1956 borders which are the dividing borders between the north and south that were endorsed by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement” Sudanese foreign minister spokesperson al-Obaid Marwih said.
“The presence of the army in Abyei region is natural thing and any other foreign forces should be described as occupation” he said.
He stressed that Abyei belongs to the north according to the realities of history and geography urging the UN chief to seek accuracy before making public statements.
Marwih added that the presence of South Sudan army in Bahr al-Arab area could be described as occupation.
(ST)