Sudanese president to visit Abyei next week

March 7, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir will visit the disputed Abyei area next week within the framework of his electoral campaign for the presidential election.

Sudan’s co-chairman of Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), Hassan Ali Nimir, told the semi-official Sudanese Media Center (SMC) on Saturday the visit will be part of Bashir’s electoral tour in West Kordofan region.

According to Nimir the candidate of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) will also visit the West Kordofan state capital, Al-Foula, and will meet the AJOC members.

In line with the 2005 peace agreement that led to the independence of South Sudan in 2011, the residents of the contested region have to decide in a referendum on whether they want to remain in Sudan or to join the new nation.

However, the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the participation of the Misseriya nomads who reside several months in the area every year.

Last month the South Sudanese Ambassador to the United Nations Francis Deng, in a speech before the Security Council criticised the organisation of elections in the contested area. But the Sudanese acting representative to the UN recalled that Abyei is part of the Sudan until the organisation of the referendum, as it is provided in the agreement.

Nimir said five political parties will participate in the legislative elections in Abyei including the National Congress Party, the Unionist Democratic Party, Federal Truth Party, United Umma Party and the National Rabat Party.

President Bashir held several meetings in Aljazira, Gadaref, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, as well as Darfur states.

(ST)