S. Sudan hopeful about reaching agreement with Khartoum on Abyei

By Ngor Arol Garang

March 19, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan said on Monday it is optimistic that it will sign an agreement, ending a dispute over the contested region of Abyei if the two sides resume discussions with the new spirit of mutual benefit, especially in the upcoming summit scheduled to take place between the two heads of state.

“There are now only two issues which the two parties need to approach with clear and open minds when negotiations resumes. This is the issue of oil and Abyei,” Deng Alor Kuol, the country’s minister of cabinet affairs told journalists shortly after seeing-off South Sudan president Salva Kiir at Juba airport on Monday.

Alor said the position of the country’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has always been clear on settling the issue of Abyei as part of the pending issues, rather than dealing with it as an isolated issue. He said resolving the issue was to the mutual benefit of both states.

Abyei is a region on the border between north and South Sudan which was invaded in May 2011 by Khartoum’s forces, in response, it alleged, to attacks by Juba.

It is described in the peace agreement signed by both states in 2005 as the “bridge between the north and the south.”

A stipulation of the agreement was the South Sudanese’s right to vote in a plebiscite. They voted overwhelmingly in favour of secession. Shortly after achieving statehood in July 2011 the Abyei issue ignited.

Another stipulation of the agreement was a separate vote for the people of Abyei on their region’s future, which is yet to happen. The right of people to vote is contentious; Khartoum claims the Misseriya ethnic group should be allowed. Juba disagrees, saying it is traditionally the homeland of the Dinka and as nomads, the Misseriya should not be considered to be residents.

The UN Interim Force for Abyei Force has been set up to police the region in the hope that some of the 110,000 displaced people will be able to return home.

“The two sides need to go to the drawing board and begin to identify their interest as two separate and independent states”, said Kuol, calling upon the South Sudanese citizens to “exercise patience and trust”.

Ariec Mayar Ariec, a member of Warrap state assembly said “it is true that many people see that the threat of an unfortunate flash of military confrontation between the two sides in the region is more possible,” but that he believed “there is still enough time to reach a peaceful and lasting agreement if the two sides have open minds.”

“What is needed now is political will from the negotiators especially the government in Khartoum,” said Ariec. 

The African High Implementation Panel has mediated a series of talks between Juba and Khartoum, with limited success; the biggest issues – border demarcation and oil disputes remain unresolved.

(ST)