Co-chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) Hassan Ali Nemir has reiterated that Sudan’s upcoming elections ought to take place in the disputed area of Abyei between Sudan and South Sudan.

Ali Nemir is a member of the Misseriya tribe and Sudan’s representative on the AJOC, whose other co-chair is from the South Sudanese side.

He made these remarks during a meeting with a Dinka Ngok tribal leader in Sudan, Zachariah Atem, and other Abyei leaders.

In a press statement, Ali Nemir said they discussed issues pertaining to peaceful coexistence between local communities in the area as well as issuance of a national identity numbers to Ngok Dinka people so that they can vote in the elections.

He further said they discussed health insurance services that will cover all poor families in Abyei. He reiterated that Abyei natives are Sudanese nationals and that they have the constitutional right to enjoy services and participate in 2015 elections like other Sudanese.

However, the head of the West Kordofan high committee for elections Abdul-Jabar Ibrahim said last month that Abyei is not included in national and state constituencies for the upcoming polls.

Abyei remains disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, though its Dinka Ngok inhabitants in October 2013 held an unrecognized poll electing to join South Sudan. Misseriya nomads migrate seasonally into the territory with their cattle.