Sudans’ talks on Abyei administration have no positive outcome as well
June 8, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan and South Sudan delegates in Abyei committee ended talks in Addis Ababa without achieving tangible progress due to their difference over the formation of legislative council in the disputed area.
However, the parties failed to implement the deal related to the temporary administrative and security measures. Khartoum until last May refused to withdraw its forces because Juba did not accept to give the legislative council to Sudan, as agreed in June 2011 deal.
The Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), which is tasked in accordance to the 2011 agreement with the supervision and promotion of security and stability, failed in its two-day meeting in Addis to break the deadlock over the issue of Abyei Area Council.
The Sudanese side in the panel, in response to Juba refusal to accept the appointment of a Sudanese as speaker; rejected to endorse the designation of the Chief Administrator who is to be nominated by Juba and his Sudanese deputy as well as the five heads of departments.
Sudan in compliance with the UN resolution 2046 pulled out its troops from Abyei, for the first time since May 2011. However a 150 oil police force remained in the oil fields despite the UN Security Council express demand to withdraw it and Juba’s protest.
Before the departure of its delegation to Addis Ababa, Khartoum urged Juba to accept that the speaker of the legislative council be nominated by Sudan.
Sources close to the talks explained to Sudan Tribune that Juba accuses the Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir of denying a gentleman agreement that he would nominate a Dinka Ngok for the position of the speaker.
Juba further says the gentleman agreement was reached by President Bashir and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zinawi. But, the South African chief mediator, Thabo Mbeki told the South Sudanese sides he has no knowledge of such a deal.
Mbeki told the President Salva Kiir that “he personally met with (the Ethiopian Prime Minister) Melse who told him that he can not recollect such agreement with President Bashir,” the source underscored.
However, Juba insists that Zenawi confirmed Bashir’s agreement to nominate a Dinka Ngok to the position.
Speaking to the press in Addis Abab, the co-chair of the Sudanese side of the AJOC, Al-Khair Al-Faheem, said they want to see all the institutions established at the same time.
“The government of south Sudan proposed to form the Abyei Area Administration now and then later comes the Legislative Council but we see no government can be established without a legislative body,” Al-Faheem pointed out.
Luka Biong, AJOC co-chair representing South Sudan, said the UN confirmed the presence of 150 strong force of Sudanese oil police.
He also added that the two sides agreed to accept the nominations of each side for the position of Chief Administrator and deputy chief administrator and five heads of departments.
The African Union High Level Implementation Panel For Sudan And South Sudan (AUHIP) said in a statement released on Friday evening that the parties agreed to “engage the Humanitarian Commissions of Sudan and South Sudan to facilitate the provision of assistance to displaced persons, who have begun to return to Abyei.”
The delegations from the two sides will resume talks on 19 June in Addis Ababa, according to the statement. The discussions will begin with the negotiations over the border security issue.
The AJOC will approve a number of measures related to the security and police force in its next meeting to be held in Abyei on 5 July.
(ST)