Luka Biong Deng departs in protest

A senior member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) who hails from Abyei, Deng said he could no longer continue to work with Bashir. Deng left the Khartoum government in light of the recent seizure of Abyei by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). He spoke with Charlton Doki about his decision.

Q:  What are your reasons for resigning?  

Deng: President Bashir declared war on the Abyei region, which created a humanitarian disaster there. As we speak, thousands of displaced people are on the move, their livelihoods uprooted. There is looting in Abyei. It's a huge humanitarian crisis.

The army's action is a real war crime against the people of Abyei. And I can clearly say that Bashir should be held responsible. There is no way I can work with him under such circumstances while we are witnessing a human tragedy created by a leader with whom we had committed ourselves to maintaining peace and stability in Sudan.

Q: Did you communicate your intention to resign to President Bashir?

Dr. Luka Biong - Photo by Sudan government

Deng: I wrote to the authority that originally recommended me for the appointment as minister, the First Vice President [Salva Kiir]. It is up to him to accept or reject my resignation and communicate this to President Bashir.

Q: What is the latest situation on the ground in Abyei?

Deng: After speaking with authorities in Abyei, I understand militias have accompanied the SAF. Some are elements from the south that began looting and burning homes in Abyei town and surrounding areas to the north.  

This morning they crossed the one bridge across the River Kiir and then began burning the houses along the water. This caused panic among those who were displaced from Abyei town, who had taken refuge south of the river.

Q: Did you see this attack on Abyei coming?

Deng: Unfortunately, more than a year after the elections, we have seen a tendency of the national government to fall short when it comes to implementing the national programs of the two main parties; that is, to fulfill the vision of establishing two viable states and maintaining good relations between north and south.

Following the referendum [on secession], it's very discouraging that the national government has failed miserably to follow through on this vision of good relations. Instead, it has gone a long way to destabilize the south of Sudan.