Border and Abyei issues threaten recent deal between South Sudan and Sudan
Thorny issues including the South Sudanese-Sudanese border and Abyei continue to loom large over September’s deal between Sudan and South Sudan, overshadowing relations between the two nations.
African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) called on the countries to settle the conflict during six weeks or to refer a proposal of the mediation to the Security Council if they fail to reach a compromise. This decision was made following meetings with Sudan and South Sudan.
The two Sudans voiced differing opinions on the possibility of reconciling the long-standing conflicts. On the one hand, Sudan Ambassador to Ethiopia, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Ser al-Khatm said the two parties needed more time to resolve the issues.
Outstanding issues, especially Abyei, need further discussions.”
Sudan’s delegation, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Ahmed Karti said the negotiations need to listen closely to the two tribes, Dinka Ngok and Misseriya. Outstanding issues, especially Abyei, need further discussions,” he said.
The South Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Nhial Deng Nhial, however, warned that extending the timeframe for dialogue on Abyei would not yield solutions. For example, he recalled the stubborn stalemate during the Addis Ababa summit meetings between the two leaders.
Nhial called for other parties to help negotiate, suggesting that his state was ready to listen to experts and international arbitration on the disputed areas.
Observers have warned that this lack of agreement could derail the recent agreements between the two long-standing foes.
Since 2005, the two countries have clashed over the nomads of Misseriya tribe who pass several months every year for grazing in Abyei.
Sudan and South Sudan also have long-standing divisions over the demarcation of border: Both countries claim ownership of several areas along their shared border.
The outstanding issues will now be in the hands of the United Nations’ Security Council, which sources say, will likely adopt the solution proposed by the African Union.
Others however warn that any solution may be stalled by divisions within the United Nations. It is thought, for example, that Russia may veto any decision as the influential nation signalled its dissatisfaction with the last deal by not attending the meeting.
In the light of this problem, both Sudan and South Sudan have reportedly tried to convince Russia of its position and are engaging in behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try and steer opinion towards their preferred solutions.
