Abyei authorities urge refugees to return for referendum vote
Ahead of next year’s proposed referendum when the disputed region of Abyei will vote on whether it is part of Sudan or South Sudan, local authorities are urging displaced residents to return home to vote.
Acting Chief Administrator for Abyei Area Mario Monyluak Kuol held a rally in Kuajok the capital of Warrap State. He urged Abyei’s Internally Displaced People (IDPs) that they would be secure if they returned home.
Acting Chief Administrator for Abyei Mario Monyluak Kuol at Freedom Square in Kuajok, October 23.
We are appealing to our IDPs in Warrap, Northern Bahr el-Ghazal and Western Bahr el-Ghazal to return home,” he said. UN peacekeepers are granting us security, it is good to be back and in case of a referendum in 2013, we must all be present.”
The African Union (AU) has proposed a referendum on Abyei for next October. That vote, originally scheduled to take place alongside South Sudan’s 2011 vote on secession, has been delayed over a longstanding dispute about who would be eligible to vote.
Key to the dispute are the Misseriya, who traditionally graze on the rich pasture land for around six months a year. If this group is prevented from voting, as suggested by the AU, the referendum will likely end up in Abyei joining the Republic of South Sudan.
Monyluak said it would be ideal to return to the region between now and December so that former residents could resettle their children into local schools.
If you return now, we will have time to prepare for some temporary structures for children’s studies, medical services, and shelter and farming land before the next rainy season,” he said.
Over 100,000 Abyei IDPs are reportedly scattered in four states: Warrap, Western Bahr el-Ghazal, Northern Bahr el-Ghazal and Unity. They fled after the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) clashed in the area in May last year.
Arop Deng Kuol, a legislator in Warrap assembly who hails from Abyei, said the contentious issue needs the support of every Abyei citizen.
Even though Khartoum is trying to manipulate the clear identity and ownership of Abyei, we must fight tooth and nail for our land,” he said.
Abyei is the fertile area claimed by both Dinka Ngok, aligned to South Sudan, and the nomad Misseriya.
Are we going to be secure with our children?”
Last month, both Sudan and South Sudan failed to reach a deal on Abyei after signing a cooperation agreement including resumption of oil production, security arrangement, and trade among other breakthroughs.
Media reports cite the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) proposing that the October 2013 referendum should be held with the participation of the Misseriya nomads resident in the region. The two states would have a six weeks time frame to strike a deal on Abyei. The reports stated that this proposal has been rejected by Khartoum.
Although former Abyei citizens are willing to return, they remain sceptical about promises of security, as well as the state’s ability to cater for needs including food and medical services.
Jutha Monytoch said she was willing to return home but was frightened about what might happen. Are we going to be secure with our children?” she asked. Last year we women and children were the victims of the clashes.”
