Abyei Demands Self-rule as Sudan Conflict Stalls Referendum

Leaders of the Dinka Ngok in Abyei are demanding self-governance as the ongoing conflict in Sudan dashes hopes for a referendum to determine the disputed region’s future. In a memorandum to the UN peacekeeping force in Abyei (UNISFA), the Dinka Ngok, who are the main inhabitants of the region, called for international support for self-rule during an interim period until Sudan and South Sudan can agree on Abyei’s final status. The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement granted Abyei special status and promised a referendum to decide whether it would join Sudan or South Sudan. However, the vote has been repeatedly delayed due to disagreements over voter eligibility, primarily the participation of the nomadic Misseriya tribe…With Sudan engulfed in conflict and South Sudan hesitant to act unilaterally, the Dinka Ngok see little chance of a resolution in the near future. They warn that Abyei, already “ravaged by decades of violence,” risks becoming a battleground. (Sudan Tribune)