24/01/2025
The Misseriya warns of unilateral moves by South Sudan regarding Abyei area.
On January 19, the Misseriya tribe in the Abyei area organized a protest in front of the UNISFA gate to protest the measures taken by the Government of South Sudan to approve the Abyei referendum (for the Ngok Dinka).
During the protest, a memorandum was submitted to UNISFA rejecting the moves of the Government of South Sudan to approve the unilateral referendum for Abyei that was proposed in October 2013.
The Government of South Sudan exploited the circumstances of the ongoing war in Sudan to annex the disputed Abyei area.
*The full Text
-In the name of Allah , the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful-
Republic of Sudan
Abyei Area, Native Administration of the Misseriya
Date: January 19, 2025
Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Subject: Memorandum on the moves of the Republic of South Sudan to Approve the Unilateral Abyei Referendum October, 2013.
At the outset, we extend to you our highest verses Appreciation and respect for the great work you are doing in maintaining security and peace in the world. As you know, the Abyei area is one of the disputed areas between Sudan and South Sudan after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army in January 2005, which included a special protocol for Abyei, known as the Abyei Conflict Resolution Protocol signed in June 2004.
The Abyei Conflict Resolution Protocol stipulated the determination of Abyei's affiliation after determining its area by a referendum for its residents, Article (8) paragraphs (1-3) which refer to the establishment of the Referendum Commission by the Presidency of the Republic in paragraph (1) the casting of the votes of the residents of Abyei in a separate ballot in paragraph (2) and not changing the line of January 1, 1956, except as agreed upon (3).
All agreements signed regarding Abyei since the Conflict Resolution Protocol in June 2004, the Abyei Roadmap Agreement of 2008, and the Interim Administrative and Security Arrangements Agreement of 2011, which referred in Article (40) to the arrangements for reaching a final solution to the situation in Abyei, and all relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Abyei since Resolution 2011/1990 until the last Council Resolution No. 2760 on November 15, 2024, all stipulated that no party shall take a unilateral decision on the fate of Abyei.
Mr. Secretary-General
the Republic of South Sudan has always sought to control Abyei by taking more than one decisions that confirms its violation of all agreements and UN Security Council resolutions. Among those violations, for example, are the following:
1. Appointing an administrative authority unilaterally in Abyei since 2013.
2. Deployment of military forces that began with the Abyei Independent Brigade led by Major General Musa Mali Kat, since 2013, and elements of the intelligence and security apparatus of South Sudan, which are expanding daily in the Abyei area, as attested by the United Nations in all its reports, including its resolution No. (2760) of November 15, 2024.
3. Declaration of Abyei as an administrative unit in 2015 when President Salva Kiir reconstituted the states in South Sudan.
4. Completion of the offices of the State of South Sudan in Abyei and the exercise of all sovereignty activities, including the presence of an office for issuing entry visas to South Sudan in Abyei.
Mr. Secretary-General
Despite all these violations witnessed by the United Nations represented by the United Nations Interim Security Forces in Abyei (UNISFA), which we turned a blind eye to in order to preserve peace and security for our community, the community relationship between us and the Ngok Dinka has developed to achieve a state of peace, security and exchange of interests in light of the surrounding circumstances in Sudan and South Sudan of wars and fighting, so that the Abyei area becomes a safe haven in light of these difficult circumstances.
Mr. Secretary-General
The action taken by the State of South Sudan in directing the Executive and Legislative Councils of the Abyei Administrative Area appointed by it to approve what was known as the Abyei Referendum, which was conducted unilaterally on October 31, 2013, and which was rejected by the international community, Sudan and South Sudan at the time as an illegal referendum,
and then receiving the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar, the Chairman of the Abyei Executive Council, Mr. Chol Deng Alak, in Juba, accompanied by Mr. Deng Alor Kuol, the Minister of East African Affairs, in preparation for submitting it to the NLA " national legislation Assembly " for approval, then meeting with Major General Robert Avram, the Commander of UNISFA forces and Acting Head of Mission on December 20, 2024, and informing him of the matter related to approving the referendum and demanding the opening of Anthony Madut Airport and the deployment of police forces in Abyei and what he called dealing with Sudanese refugees in Abyei,
and the step of supporting the Governance Group in its meeting No. (2025/01) on January 15, 2025, headed by the First Deputy to the President of the Republic of South Sudan in preparation for submitting it to the National Council of Ministers meeting for approval,
All constitutes a clear violation of everything that was agreed upon between Sudan and South Sudan and the Security Council resolutions issued regarding Abyei since Resolution (2011/1990) through all the resolutions until the latest Resolution No. (2024/2760) and confirmation of the occupation of Abyei and considering it a state belonging to South Sudan.
Mr. Secretary-General
As a major component of the population of Abyei and as a genuine partner, we do not accept that our citizenship rights in our homeland be bypassed and violated. We believe that South Sudan has made a big mistake in believing that the preoccupation of the Sudanese government with its internal problems in the current war taking place in Sudan gives it the opportunity to expand into Abyei and annex it without any right.
We, as Misseriya and Sudanese and right holders, are committed to our rights, and our respect for international law, international resolutions and what has been agreed upon is not considered weakness on our part. Therefore, we emphasize the following:
1. We categorically reject the steps taken by the authorities of the Republic of South Sudan to authorize the unilateral referendum and annex Abyei to it.
2. All heavenly and international laws guarantee us the right to defend our legitimate rights.
3. The presence of the United Nations Interim Security Forces in Abyei derives its legitimacy from making the Abyei area demilitarized and free of any forces Armed police, except for the Abyei police, which has not yet been formed, but it has failed to do so, as evidenced by its reports, the latest of which is Resolution No. (2024/2760), which confirmed the presence of the South Sudan Defense Forces and the South Sudan Security Forces in Abyei and the expansion of their scope daily.
4. Demands that the UN Security Council, through its responsibilities, stop all violations by the State of South Sudan of the agreements and Security Council resolutions related to Abyei.
5. We affirm our commitment to achieving security and peace and working to preserve our citizenship rights in the region in accordance with the laws and resolutions of the UN Security Council related to the Abyei region, as we have an interest and historical rights that have continued for centuries.
6. The Council must act urgently to extinguish the fire of sedition that may create a new security threat in the region and the province.
And accept our highest appreciation and respect.
For the people of the Misseriya region in Abyei on their behalf..
1. Nazir Mukhtar Babo Nimr, General Nazir of the Misseriya
2. Mr. Ismail Hamdeen Hamidan, Deputy Nazir
3. Prince / Hamdi Al-Dodo Ismail
4. Mayor / Yahya Jamaa Abdullah.
5. Mayor / Al-Jak Suleiman Rahma
6. Mayor / Al-Dodo Mohamed Al-Ubaid
7. Mayor / Radwan Jaqr
8. Mayor / Saeed Hamdeen Idam.
9. Mayor / Idris Juma Rahma
CC :
1. African Union
2. Members of the sponsoring countries of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement 2005
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sudan