The community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, CEPO says it welcomes ongoing meeting between Sudan and South Sudan on status of Abyei that began yesterday (Sunday) 9th April, 2024 in Khartoum, Sudan.
According to CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani, the process for determining the fate of Abyei has taken long time due to what he terms as clash of interest between South Sudan and Sudan political leaders.
Mr Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO says, sons and daughters of Abyei should be given the chance to decide freely on where they want to belong between South Sudan and Sudan.
“Politicising the process for allowing the sons and daughters of Abyei to decide on their fate is a clear violation of Abyei Protocol signed in 2004 under the framework of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that leads to the independence of South Sudan from the rest of Sudan in July 2011” Mr Yakani said.
He warned against taking advantage of the existing resources in the area to exploit Abyei’s natives and denying them their freedom.
The Civil Society activist said the prolonged process of deciding Abyei issue is making it’s people become almost stateless between South Sudan and Sudan.
He urged the International Community to take responsibility of pressuring Juba and Khartoum to deliver on the task of final status is Abyei.
CEPO has additionally urged Juba and Khartoum leaders in the ongoing meeting to genuinely take responsibility of making compromises for the sake of allowing Abyei sons and daughters to have free choice of where they want to belong.
The two Committees of South Sudan and Sudan tasked to resolve the final status of Abyei signed a document in Khartoum committing themselves to adhere to the signed protocols on Abyei, resolving outstanding issues peacefully and amicable, delivery of Social services, development, provision of security and community dialogue to foster coexistence and unity among Ngok Dinka and Misseriya.
The Deputy Chairperson of Sudan Sovereign Council Mohamad Hamdan Daglo Himiti signed on behalf of the Government of Sudan while Tut Gatluak on behalf of the Government of South Sudan.