Abyei tension could turn violent, S. Sudan warns

April 27, 2013 (JUBA)- South Sudan on Saturday warned that the growing tension in Abyei, an oil-producing region it contests with Sudan, could turn violent, if no immediate interventions occur.

Chol Changath, the south-ruling party (SPLM) Secretary General in Abyei told Sudan Tribune Saturday that militia groups, allegedly linked to Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) attacked a village east of Abyei town, killed people and burnt to ashes 23 huts.

Two separate attacks, he said, also occurred in the area, with reports of several herds of cattle said to have been raided from these villages.

Deng Mading Mijak, South Sudan’s deputy co-chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) said that the area has, in the past months, experienced high tension, allegedly due to increased activities of “armed” Arabs nomads.

Mijak, the state-owned SSTV reported, appealed to the United Nations peace keeping forces in the region (UNISFA), to take full responsibility of the seemingly volatile security situation.

“The United Nations interim force for Abyei (UNISFA) is the one responsibility for the provision of the security and protection of civilian as agreed by the two parties. They should be seen doing their work so that the area becomes arms free”, he stressed.

Mijak, recently appointed on AJOC, said an immediate intervention, through strong measures, by regional and international leaders and entities, like the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) as well as the UN Security Council (UNSC), could prevent a possible return to war between Sudan and South Sudan.

“The regional leaders with the key actors together with the international community need to exert efforts and pull together their acts to bring a lasting solution,” he said.
There must be immediate intervention otherwise current tension could turn violence, he added.

South Sudan leader, Salva Kiir recently said his country’s current deadlock with Sudan over Abyei will only be resolved, if international partners fully engaged the latter into accepting the African Union (AU) proposal on the final status of the disputed region.

He said although the young nation accepted the AU proposal, its northern neighbour remained defiant, despite talks between the two countries’ leaders on two separate occasions

Last year, the AU mediation team proposed that a referendum be held in the contested region this October, but that only those residing permanently in the area would be allowed to vote in the plebiscite, and decide whether they want to join Sudan or South Sudan.

This proposal would effectively make the majority of voters come from the Dinka Ngok tribe, aligned with South Sudan, thus putting the Arab Misseriya nomads, who spend several months in Abyei every year grazing, not part of the voting.

According to the mediators, exclusion of the Misseriya nomads, in line with the decision of the Hague-based arbitration court, which defined the territory of the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms in July 2009.

However, Sudan swiftly rejected the plan, which received the blessing of the AUPSC, suggesting the matter be referred to the UNSC to make it binding.

(ST)