Sudan warns against attempts to impose new solutions on Abyei
June 1, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan has called for the establishment of administrative and security mechanisms in Abyei, warning that any attempt to seek other solution will be catastrophic for the disputed area.
On 29 May, the UN Security Council (UNSC) extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 October 2014 and urged Khartoum and Juba to implement the signed agreements between the two countries over Abyei.
Speaking before the 15 member body, the deputy head of Sudan mission at the United Nations commended the council’s decision and said that his government is hopeful that Juba exerts the needed efforts to establish the interim administration, the legislative and joint police force.
He said that the shortest way to settle the dispute over the region is to improve security conditions and to engage in a dialogue in order to settle the dispute.
He further warned that his government rejects any attempts to impose other alternative.
“Any attempt to devise any ideas or proposals beyond those agreements signed between the parties or to impose hasty solutions will be catastrophic to the situation in Abyei,” he said.
Juba which refuses to implement the 20 June agreement says these agreements are exceeded by the events and outdated it in return proposes to go directly to the referendum proposed by the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC).
Reports from the region reflects the growing tensions between the two communities of Ngok Dinka and Misseriya who clashed several times during the past three months.
South Sudan ambassador to the United Nation Francis Deng noted that the international community, didn’t recognise the outcome of the unilateral referendum organised in October 2013 adding it however “reflects the genuine aspirations of the Ngok Dinka”.
The South Sudan ambassador referred in his speech to a proposal he extended to the Security Council to stabilise the situation in Abyei before to reach a negotiated solution for the dispute.
“It is my opinion that the Ngok Dinka need and deserve to restore their erstwhile autonomous administrative status, which was combined with cordial and cooperative relations with the Missiriya, this time under internationally guaranteed security arrangements, and in cooperation with the governments of South Sudan and Sudan,” he said.
“I should reiterate that the details of my proposals for the stabilisation of Abyei are in the note I have already referred to and which is a Security Council document,” he further said.
(ST)