Sudan Government welcomes the initiative over the final status of Abyei

May 28, 2021 Breaking News, News, Newsbeat, South Sudan, Sudan

Juba, South Sudan,

May 27th, 2021 — South Sudan’s President H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a presidential decree two days ago appointing an ad hoc committee to engage in talks with Sudanese Transitional Government over the status of contested Abyei Administrative Area.

Sudan welcomes Kiir’s initiative on Abyei status determination

President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Sudan Delegation (photo credit: Facebook courtesy)

The formation of the committee comes a week after armed militia from Sudan’s Messiriya tribe allegedly backed by a Sudanese army carried out an atrocities that left 12 civilians killed and injured several others in Abyei.

The committee will be consisting of 10 dignitaries headed by Hon. Tut Gatluak, the Presidential advisor for security affairs.

According to president’s advisor, the committee will initiate talks with Sudanese counterparts on the matter of Abyei so that a peaceful solution is possible.

To expedite resolutions, President Kiir hints that he will be expecting the committee to update him monthly.

On the other hand, the Government of Sudan applauded the committee through the ministry of foreign affairs under the auspices Hon. Mariam Sadiq El_Mahdi.

In a televised address on Tuesday in Juba , Mahdi said borders are the basis for real economic, social and political integration.

“We have to address the issue…in order to achieve the goal of one people in two countries, and how we can work together.”, Foreign minister Mahdi said.

President Kiir instructed the committee to negotiate with Khartoum in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement or CPA, the peace agreement that was signed between the two countries in 2005.

Abyei is a disputed Area contested by Messiriya nomads and Ngok Dinka for many years.

Inter-communal fighting between the two rivaling tribes have led to many civilian deaths in the last decade.

The CPA granted Abyei citizens a right to determine their fates through a referendum.

In 2013, Abyei held a popular but unilateral referendum where 99.8% of the population voted in favor of annexation of Abyei to northern part of Bhar el Ghazal in South Sudan; however; both government of Sudan and South Sudan rejected to acknowledge the outcome with reasons best known to them.