South Sudan’s minister of Cabinet Affairs, Deng Alor Kuol, announced yesterday at the funeral of the late Dinka Ngok paramount chief, Kuol Deng Adol, that the Sudanese president and his South Sudanese counterpart will meet within two weeks in order to decide the final fate of Abyei.

Alor claimed that the African Union (AU) have instructed both nations to fulfill the following requirements:

“It is said that the Government of Sudan must withdraw its forces from Difra (also known as Kej) immediately. It is said the investigation must be done and they must be given feedback about the killing of the leader Kuol Adol within two weeks,” claimed Alor, summarizing the AU’s instructions.

The AU has requested a role, alongside the two nations, in the investigation of Kuol’s death, in spite of Khartoum’s objection, claimed Alor.

The Cabinet minister further revealed that the African Union has also called upon the two presidents to meet urgently to discuss Abyei and to present the AU with a proposed resolution in order that they can make a final decision.

“It is also said Salva Kiir and Bashir must meet now so that they can agree on the final implementation for the solution of Abyei within two weeks and give us results so that we can take a decision,” reporting the minister.

Calls were then made to community leaders to return the administration center to Abyei instead of basing it in Agok where it had been for security reasons.  Similar calls were made for the civilian population to return to the area, particularly the youth.

“The administration must return to Abyei this week. It must come to Abyei. I’m telling this to general Monyluak and comrades around him,”added Alor.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview, the chief’s successor, Bulabek Deng, reported that the death of Kuol Adol has united the people of Abyei more.  A civil society representative added that the tension surrounding the killing will only cool down once the issue has been fully resolved.

The general mood at the funeral demonstrated strong unity, claimed Radio Tamazuj’s correspondent, and a feeling of determination to find a final resolution for Abyei, believed to be the referendum.

Others who spoke at the event include chiefs from nine Ngok Chiefdoms and officials from the national and state governments of Warrap, Northern Bahr el-Ghazal and Unity.

Kuol Adol was killed last Saturday alongside a companion and two Ethiopian peacekeeping troops as he was escorted by the UN mission to Abyei, UNISFA.  Sudan’s foreign ministry reported that 17 Misseriya attackers were also killed.