Abyei tribes to intensify cooperation

Following historic meetings, the Misseriya and Dinka Ngok tribes have agreed on the establishment of good relations through convocation of joint meetings toward boosting the peaceful coexistence and realising peace in the disputed Abyei area on the border between Sudan and South Sudan.

The chairman of the Joint Supervisory Mechanism for Abyei, Hassan Ali Nimir, was informed on outcome of the meeting last month between the General Union of Misseriya and the Higher Council of Dinka Ngok, which decided formation of a joint five-man mechanism to follow up and discuss issues of the Abyei area.

The Organisation Secretary of the General Union of Misseriya, Musa Hamadain, said that the General Union of Misseriya and the Higher Council of Dinka Ngok have agreed on establishment of good relations through convocation of joint meetings toward boosting the peaceful coexistence and realizing peace at Abyei area.

He said that the coming meeting will discuss a number of issues, including appointment of a rapporteur and a joint chairman and selecting the method of people's diplomacy.

Hamadain indicated that the two sides have agreed to intensify the meetings between them for solving the obstacles and realizing security, stability and development of the Abyei area.

The oil-rich Abyei region is contested by Sudan and South Sudan. There is no government or police force. Its status has been unresolved after South Sudan seceded from Sudan: the governments failed to agree on the border division. A United Nations peacekeeping mission, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), has monitored the situation since 2011.

Abyei was originally due to hold a referendum in 2011. However, insecurity stemming from disagreements on voter eligibility between the resident Dinka Ngok and the nomadic Misseriya groups resulted in postponement.

(Source: SUNA)