Abyei Frustration: South Sudan Parliament Urged To Recognize 2013 Referendum Results

Juba, June 18, 2016 (GSN) - South Sudan’s transitional parliament is being urged by authorities and the people of Abyei region to quickly sort out the issue of Abyei status as it begins to function in Juba to allow the contested region enjoy being part of South Sudan in totality.

The Chief Administrator for Abyei Special Administrative Area, Mr. Chol Deng Alaak told the press on Tuesday that there is a reason for the SPLM factions brought together by the ARCISS peace agreement to work cooperatively to acknowledge and validate the Referendum results decided in October 2013. 

“We are expecting that a motion which was raised in Parliament to approve the result of the Abyei Referendum is revived by the Parliament. We need approval from the Parliament to consider the plebiscite of Abyei valid,” Alaak said. 

Mr. Alaak said that Abyei issue has become a thing of the past making the region and its population to be losers on both sides of the Republic of South Sudan and the National Congress party in Sudan. 

Abyei Region with its nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms was originally part of South Sudan until 1905 when it was administratively annex to Kordufan Region. The SPLM and the government of Sudan contested the region and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) promised referendum to be carried out along South Sudan’s exercise to decide whether to join the South Sudan or be part of Sudan. 

In 2013 two months before the civil war in South Sudan 99.9% of Abyei people unilaterally voted be part of South Sudan, however, both the Juba and Khartoum became reluctant to recognize the results. 

Alaak said that region faces difficulties of shortage of food, security education, health infrastructure and sovereignty. 

“It is South Sudan to recognize Abyei before international community. We can’t say ‘I have become part of this country, we have to be recognized internationally to be part of that country,” Alaak added. 

When asked Chol Mayom from Abyei who holds a South Sudan nationality identity card said, “If South Sudan authorities can now give the right for nationality why is it difficult for them to recognize my official decision to join the nation? We are in a dilemma and this must stop. Sometimes we face problems both in Sudan and in South Sudan because some people cannot exactly trust us as their fellow countrymen and women.”

Suzan Yak said, “You know it is not enough to grant employment to few individuals like Deng Alor and others and claim that you have a meaningful solidarity with the entire citizens. Where are the citizens of Abyei? They got spread everywhere and no man on earth cares to make them return to their region to resettle. Which government do I trust now when I have voted to choose South Sudan and left to suffer in similar situation?” 

Members of Northern Sudanese nomadic tribe of messirya seasonally bring their livestock to Abyei every year to graze and look for water and now have claimed ownership of the land with Sudanese authorities in National Congress Party arguing that they (Messirya) too must participate in plebiscite decision. 

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