South Sudan’s presidency has issued an order granting leave to civil servants who originate from Abyei. The measure is meant to allow the Abyei natives time to return to the area and prepare of the upcoming referendum.

Abyei, the disputed area between Warrap State and West Kordofan, is scheduled to have a referendum in October to join South Sudan, as proposed by Thabo Mbeki, the incumbent chairman of the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP).

A source confirmed that the leave period will commence on 1 September until an undisclosed date. 

Meanwhile, in Khartoum the chairman of Defence, Security and External Relations of the Sudanese Parliament Mohamed Hassan Al-Min confirmed Khartoum’s refusal to allow a referendum conducted in the Abyei area without participation of Misseriya tribe, or any “unilateral” referendum from South Sudan side.