South Sudan vice-president claims ‘there is no government’ in Sudan

JUBA – South Sudan’s Vice-President for Infrastructure Cluster, Taban Deng Gai, has declared that Sudan lacks a functioning government and urged swift action to resolve the disputed status of Abyei, a territory along the border claimed by both nations.

Speaking on Friday during the pre-closing session of the country’s 8^th Governors’ Forum in Juba, Taban highlighted the dire situation in Abyei, which has faced prolonged neglect and insecurity.

“We have a very big problem in Abyei. The vacuum is very clear – South Sudanese must know this. The people of Ngok are South Sudanese, and we can’t allow them to suffer the way they are suffering. Right now, there is no government in Khartoum, and they are left that way,” Taban said.

The vice-president, who formerly governed Unity State bordering Sudan’s West Kordofan State, criticized the lack of international and regional attention to Abyei.

He urged UN agencies, including the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), to increase their presence and support in the area.

“UN agencies should visit Abyei; many of them are scared – they think Abyei is not part of the Juba government. Does the government in Port Sudan have the time to listen or check on the people of Abyei? It is not a priority for them. These people are suffering – they have no schools, and even Anthony airport is blocked by Khartoum from operating,” Taban said.

Taban criticized the continued closure of Athony airport and called for a recommendation from the Governors’ Forum to address Abyei’s plight. He also called for increased humanitarian assistance to the Ngok Dinka community, who, he said, are enduring severe hardships.

“Humanitarian assistance needs to be increased from Juba to Abyei, and UN agencies should also be visiting Abyei because there is no government in Khartoum – there is a vacuum. Why do we allow our people to suffer that way?” he asked.

Taban further suggested that the South Sudanese government facilitate peace conferences between the Ngok Dinka and the nomadic Arab Misseriya, whom he accused of being used by Sudan’s former government under Omar al-Bashir to create instability in Abyei.

He hinted that South Sudan might consider recognizing the 2013 Abyei referendum if the United Nations and other stakeholders fail to deliver a lasting resolution.

“We are for a total solution to the problem of Abyei, but we must exert pressure for a settlement. We can give an ultimatum to the UN. For several years now, you have remained quiet on the settlement of Abyei. In the absence of a solution, we are going to recognize the referendum of Abyei,” Taban said.

Abyei, a disputed area located on the border between Sudan and South Sudan, has been a flashpoint of contention since South Sudan’s independence in 2011.

Rich in oil and historically home to the Ngok Dinka and the nomadic Arab Misseriya, Abyei was granted special administrative status under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

A referendum was scheduled to decide Abyei’s status but was delayed due to disagreements over voter eligibility.

In October 2013, the Ngok Dinka unilaterally organized a referendum, overwhelmingly voting to join South Sudan. However, the vote was not recognized by Sudan, South Sudan, or the international community.

Since then, Abyei has remained in limbo, governed by a United Nations peacekeeping force known as UNISFA, or the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, with little progress toward resolving its final status.

While uncertainty has left the local population in a precarious situation, which exacerbating tensions between the Ngok Dinka and the Misseriya, observers caution that unilateral actions, such as recognizing the 2013 referendum, could further complicate efforts to find a negotiated solution.