NCP rejects SPLM administration to Sudan’s Abyei
The National Congress Party (SPLM) denounced the formation of an administration in the disputed Abyei area by its partner in peace saying is constitutes a grave breach of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and demanded its removal.
Recently returned Sudanese refugees from the Ngok Dinka tribe in the village of Dokra, central Sudan, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007. (AP)
Due to the refusal of the National Congress Party of President Omer al-Bashir to implement conclusions of Abyei Boundary Commission (ABC), the disputed oil rich area is still without administration since the signing of the CPA in January 2005.
"This act transgresses the authority of the presidency which owns alone the decision to appoint the administration of Abyei under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Interim National Constitution." Said the NCP in a statement issued on Sunday evening.
Last January, the First Vice President and President of the government of southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayadrit, appointed Edward Lino as chairman of the SPLM in Abyei. He also charged him with the administration of the area till the formation of its permanent administration.
Lino has started on March 26 to exercise his duties in the disputed region. The NCP statement also said that his appointment was accompanied by the deployment of heavy SPLA forces north of the town of Abyei.
The National Congress said keeping close watch over the "continued attempts of this administration to extend its authority as a fait accompli and impose its influence on national and local institutions located the area."
The Misseriya tribesmen have accused the government of consenting on what they described as Edward Lino’s occupation of Abyei and interpreted the government’s silence towards what happened as acceptance.
The Paramount Emir of the Misseriya tribesmen, Mukhtar Babo Nimir said on March 28 that they had informed the concerned authorities about what had happened and that they were currently waiting for the stance of the government. He further described what Edward Lino had done as an insult to the Misseriya.
Abyei was one of the reasons of the SPLM withdrawal from the government of national unity in October 2007.
Under the 9 January peace deal between the ruling National Congress party and the SPLA, the district is one of three granted special status during six years of interim autonomy in the south, leading to a referendum on independence.
After reiterating its rejection "in the strongest possible terms" of the SPLM administration the National Congress Party said that dialogue and negotiations are the only way to overcome the current tense situation. It also said that the working group assigned following October crisis made "remarkable progress in endeavor to develop a common vision."
CONDITIONS FOR TALKS ON ABYEI ROW
However, the NCP statement set three conditions for the resumption of negotiations on Abyei between the two peace partners:
1- The immediate termination of the SPLM appointed administration and its withdrawal from the disputed area, 2. The redeployment of SPLA troops recently deployed around Abyei to their former positions under the control of the Joint Defence Board; 3. "To stop any unilateral steps that threatens the stability of the area and lead to spoiling the atmosphere of peace and national dialogue."
On Noember 17, 2007 Sudanese President and leader of the NCP Omer al-Bashir rejected categorically the Abyei Commission Report. While mobilizing the Popular Defense Forces, he said ABC commissioners "should dilute their report and drink it."
In the same time, the Sudanese First Vice President and SPLM leader said that "The ABC report should be binding to all parties but the NCP rejected it and is looking for an alternative. This is not acceptable to us and we will stick the report."
Under the protocol a commission known as the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC) was to “define and demarcate the area of the nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms transferred to Kordofan in 1905, referred to herein as Abyei Area”.
However the president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir said that the NCP is committed to the Abyei Protocol only with the border of 1905. He further said the government is not concerned with the ABC report and that the latter is of no value to them.
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