Natives of the disputed Abyei Area between Sudan and South Sudan have rejected Abyei’s inclusion as one of the geographical constituencies in the upcoming Sudanese elections scheduled for April 2015.

In early September, Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) announced its plan to complete the determination of constituencies for the 2015 elections by mid-September and disclosed that the Abyei area will be included.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Abyei Youths Secretary General Kuol Biong said the Khartoum government wanted to escalate the situation again, describing the move as “provocative”.

Biong said the decision represents a menace to the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms.

He also accused the Khartoum government of planning to displace the people of Abyei again in order to take over control of Abyei.

Biong urged the two national governments in Khartoum and Juba to recognize the final results of the Abyei referendum. He was referring to the poll held by the Ngok Dinka people in October last year, in which the vast majority of people voted to join South Sudan.

However, neither Sudan nor South Sudan recognized the plebiscite so far.

Biong also stressed that the killers of the Dinka Ngok paramount chief Deng Kuol should be brought to justice. The chief was killed last year when gunmen opened fire on a convoy of UN peacekeepers in which he was traveling. 

To contact Radio Tamazuj with press releases, comments or information, write to radiotamazuj@gmail.com with full name and contact information.