{{South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit has urged the citizens of the contested region of Abyei to return home in preparation for a referendum vote, despite Khartoum’s rejection of the African Union-backed proposal.}}
Kiir made the remarks while delivering a speech dedicated to the current flood crisis that hit six of 10 South Sudan states and displaced thousands of people since heavy rains begun in August.
“We tell the people of Abyei to return home early so that they [can] participate in the referendum”, said Kiir in a statement broadcast by the state-owned South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Thursday.
He said his administration continued to urge the international community to exert pressure on Sudan to accept the conduct of the referendum as the only viable solution to resolve the dispute over the area.
“The citizens of Abyei can return to their homes so that they are physically present to participate in all [of] the process, especially voter registration when it is started. They should return now as we are exerting efforts to push Khartoum to accept the conduct”, he said.
Kiir maintains that conditions attached by Khartoum as a prerequisite to the conduct of the referendum were unacceptable.
“They (government of Sudan) have accepted the conduct of the referendum but attach certain things which we do not accept. They want joint institutions which is not the priority. We want a referendum commission to be established first because this is what will resolve the dispute”, he said.
Khartoum, which refuses the referendum without the participation of the Sudanese Misseriya nomads, demands to establish a joint administration and a legislative council first. It further says committed to the vote to determine the fate of the disputed area but call for negotiations that can achieve a lasting solution.
The organisation of the referendum in October was proposed last year by the head of the African Union panel for Sudan and South Sudan, Thabo Mbeki.
The former South African president during short visits to the two capitals last week, held talks with presidents Omer Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir after their summit in Khartoum. He hailed their positive esprit and determination to implement the signed agreements but remained silent over Abyei.
Sudantribune
Leave a Reply