PRESS STATEMENT AND POSITION PAPER IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT LETTER OF DR. FRANCIS MADING DENG REGARDING HIS SELF RULE PROPOSAL FOR ABYEI.

PRESS STATEMENT AND POSITION PAPER IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT LETTER OF DR. FRANCIS MADING DENG REGARDING HIS SELF RULE PROPOSAL FOR ABYEI. =============================

JUBA – On Tuesday, 12th November, 2024, representatives and key stakeholders in the Abyei Area ( government and Civil Society Organizations ) including the Administration of Abyei Special Administrative Area, Abyei members in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, the Council of States, Members of other Consitutional Post-holders, Civil Society Organizations including; Women, Youth, Students and Traditional Authority leaders held a press conference to issue a strong and unshakable stance against Dr. Francis Mading Deng’s proposal termed ” Self-Rule for Abyei ” which he also frames to be the solution to the ongoing impasse between South Sudan and Sudan over the determination of Abyei Final Status.

In a ten (10) points letter addressed to H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan, the key representatives and stakeholders in the Abyei Area described the proposal by Dr. Francis Mading Deng which he advanced through the Abyei Voice for Security and Stability on 27th October, 2024, as inaccurate and deliberately misleading.

The Key stakeholders stressed that Dr. Francis Mading Deng proposal is a divisive agenda as it fails to consider the wellbeing and aspirations of the uncontested majority of (99.98 %) of the Ngok Dinka who overwhelmingly voted to join South Sudan during the October 2013 Community Referendum.

The proposal advanced is an attempt to undermine Abyei’s historical and cultural ties to South Sudan and disregard the hard-fought progress and gains made over the recent years to integrate Abyei into its rightful fabric of South Sudan’s nation.

In conclusion, the Key representatives and Stakeholders of the Abyei Area argued that Dr. Francis is evidently leveraging the current frustrations of Abyei, which he entirely blames on the government of South Sudan, in an attempt to sow division between Ngok Dinka of Abyei and their government.

In light of this statement issued, the Key representatives and stakeholders argued that the government intensify efforts to engage the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN) and the International Community at large to expedite the resolution of the Abyei Final Status, inter-Alia, recognition of the results of the October, 2013 of the Ngok Dinka Community Referendum or holding a new referendum based on the African Union Mbeki’s proposal of 21st September, 2012 as the Ngok Dinka remains steadfast in their resolve to remain an integral part of South Sudan. The signatories of the position appealed to H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit, to adopt and endorse the results of the October 2013, popular Referendum.

The statement issued by Key representatives and Stakeholders of the Abyei Area on 12th November, 2024 was signed by ;

Hon. Deng Alor Kuol, Minister of East Africa Affairs and Deputy Chair of the Abyei National committee for the Final Status, representing the Abyei File.
H.E. Amb. Dr. Chol Deng Alak, Chief Administrator, Abyei Special Administrative Area.
Hon. Tabitha Chol Minyiel, Chairperson of the committee for Health, Council of States, representing Abyei members in the Council of States.
Hon. Asha Abbas Akuei, Deputy chairperson of the committee for Culture and Heritage, transitional National Legislative Assembly, representing members of Abyei in the Assembly.
Dr. Dier Tong Ngor, Former National Minister for Finance and Planning and president of the executive Committee of Abyei Community organization in Juba.
Chief Malual Yak, Representing Ngok Traditional Chiefs in Juba.
Mr. Biong Chol Aguek, Representing Abyei Lawyers Network for the Final Status of the Abyei Area.
Mrs. Nyansegn Dholbeek, Abyei Women Network in Juba.
Clementina Acheng Deng, Abyei Youth Association in Juba.