Sudan Events – Agencies
The Council of Ministers of the Government of South Sudan is set to hold an extraordinary meeting next Wednesday to officially recognize the results of the Abyei community referendum held by the Ngok Dinka clans in October 2013.
This referendum, which was conducted unilaterally, has not received official recognition from the parties to the Abyei Protocol, including regional and international bodies, since it was held.
A source close to the Minister of East African Affairs, Deng Alor Kuol, and the head of the Abyei Administration, Chol Deng Ajak, revealed that a meeting was held this week in Juba, chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Riek Machar, along with Deng Alor, where it was agreed to include the referendum results on the Cabinet’s agenda.
The source explained that the Abyei Legislative Council, which was unilaterally formed by the Government of South Sudan, has recently approved the referendum results, paving the way for the Transitional National Legislative Assembly to officially recognize and declare Abyei as part of South Sudan.
This step represents a significant development in the Abyei issue, opening the door to resolving the regional and international debate over the area’s affiliation.
