Abyei community rejects proposed joint administration with Misseriya

JUBA – The Abyei community have rejected a proposal to establish a joint administration with members of the Misseriya Arab nomadic tribe, citing the 2009 court of arbitration ruling at The Hague.

The proposal was rejected by the executive council of the South Sudan-appointed administration in the disputed region, the area chief administrator, civil society organizations and the traditional leadership.

Kuol Deim Kuol, the Abyei chief administrator said his executive council convened a meeting at which it decided to discuss the proposal by Francis Mading Deng, suggesting for temporary arrangements until such time when Sudan and South Sudan have amicably settled the dispute in the contested region.

In May 2022, Mading, an imminent personality and son of a paramount of the Ngok Dinka proposed setting a temporary arrangement in which members of the Misseriya with which his community contest territorial ownership of the area would participate until such time the issue is resolved.

Mading hinted at sharing resources. The Ngok rejected his proposal, saying it amounts to recognising the claim of the Misseriya.

“The executive council convened a meeting last week after carrying out consultations with all segments of the community to solicit their views about the proposal and to conduct further analysis and the outcome was a total rejection of the proposal advocating temporary arrangements by Dr. Francis Mading Deng. A public statement was issued by the executive council supporting the decision of the consultation and important resolutions were passed”, he told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

One of the resolutions, according to Kuol, seeks the approval of the council of ministers of the government of South Sudan, its national legislative assembly, the Council of States and the action of the president to endorse the community referendum and to forward the same endorsement decision to the African Union and the United Nations Security Council.

Another resolution, he said, seeks the efforts of President Salva Kiir and his administration to endorse and lobby the AU and UNSC as well as other international institutions to ensure Sudan complies with the provisions of the 2005 peace agreement which recognizes territorial ownership of Abyei to members of the nine Ngok chiefdoms and an administrative area to be established.

A third resolution asks the government of South Sudan to coordinate efforts and work together with international community to stop settlement, setting up of the Sudan appointed administration north of Abyei in the areas delineated by the court and falling in the Abyei box and to stop further encroachment into the area from north of Abyei.

“There were several other resolutions but these three points are important for members of the public to know. They express their views of the people of Abyei and their leadership. The resolutions are also anchored on the provision of the Abyei protocol, the ruling of the court in 2009 and recommendations of the African union high level implementation panel”, explained Kuol.

He commended Kiir for showing commitment to pursue the cause of the area, expressing hope the two countries will resolve the matter as one of the most important requiring the attention of the two leaders.

The status of Abyei is one of the main outstanding issues Sudan and South Sudan have not resolved since the latter seceded from the former in July 2011.