Several members of South Sudan’s National Legislative Assembly are pushing for a resolution that the United Nations and African Union should administer the disputed Abyei Area and also be tasked with overseeing a referendum for the separation of the region from Sudan.

The resolution is yet to be scrutinized by a newly established parliamentary committee that is going to be focusing on Abyei area.

Hon Asha Abassa Akuei appealed to the members to urge the African Union, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei and the UN Security Council to reconsider a new security arrangement for the Abyei Area.

Hon. Deng Alor reported to the legislature that the people of Abyei rejected the formation of the Abyei Joint Administration. He said they were compelled by President Omar Hassan Bashir’s clear position as being against the conduct of the referendum.

“If the referendum is no longer going to take place why should we accept the formation of the administration?” he asked.

Honourable James Kok from Jonglei stated that it should be made clear as to whether the administration of Abyei is to be handed over to UNISFA so as to avoid the inclusion of the Misseriya people.

Hon. Onyoti Adigo Nyikwac, the leader of the opposition, called upon the government of South Sudan to have a diplomatic offensive on this issue so that the administration of Abyei be taken up by the UN and AU. “These bodies will help protect and also disarm the people with arms in this area,” Onyoti said, referring to armed Misseriya herders in the area.

File photo: South Sudanese MPs