The Sudanese co-chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee said that preperations for Abyei residents to participate in Sudan's 2015 general elections are in full progress.

Commitee co-chair Hassan Ali Nimir told the Sudanese Center for Press Services that it is the inherent right of Abyei citizens to vote in Sudan's elections which are scheduled for April.

Nimir objected to the formation of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee by South Sudan and appealed to the Sudanese Supreme Court to consider the region as an independent geographical constituency for the 2015 elections.

He said his committee will continue to work with the National Elections Commission to enure that the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka citizens of Abyei can vote next year.

Abyei is a disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan.