S. Sudan condemns attack in contested Abyei region
December 8, 2014 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government on Monday condemned an attack in which four people were killed and several others injured in the disputed region of Abyei.
“Every day comes with a challenge for our people in Abyei. Waking up in the morning and thinking should I be hopeful, would it be a day when they will find the world has woken up with courage and one strong voice and say this issue of Abyei must be resolved now”, Gen. Monyluak told Sudan Tribune by phone from Abyei.
“Unfortunately it remains a day when people wake up to hear and say something bad has happened to people of Abyei like the cowardice and belligerent act meted out on our people yesterday [Sunday] by the Misseriya and militia groups which are supported by the government of Sudan”, he added.
The official further said those who fled Abyei were mainly the elderly, women and children.
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Mawien Makol said government, in the strongest term, condemned the attack carried out by the Misseriya and its allies on innocent civilians.
He described as “unacceptable” actions of the Messeriya, saying it undermines the spirit of peaceful coexistence and the efforts by the South Sudanese leadership, working in collaboration with the Khartoum regime amicably resolve the impasse over Abyei’s status.
“This attack, as you know, comes just few days after the president had appointed the co-chair of Abyei Joint Oversight committee, which is one of the mechanisms through which issues of concerns are identified and discussed between the countries to get a solution”, Makol separately said on Monday.
He said civilians living in Abyei had became vulnerable to attacks by the armed Arabs nomads and the Sudanese government-backed militiamen in the disputed region after the United Nations interim force for Abyei (UNISFA) pulled out of its headquarters.
The official, however, urged Sudan to do anything within its powers and its nomadic communities from any hostile activities in Abyei.
Since May 2011, Abyei has been devoid of a functional administration after Sudanese forces took control of the area, displacing nearly 105,000 people.
(ST)