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6 Month Extension of UNIFSA Mandate Welcomed

Michael Atit

   KHARTOUM - AlorKoul,chief administrator forAbyei, reacted positively
   Monday to word that the United Nations Security Council extended the
   mandate forAbyeifor six months, butcautioned that renewingtheU.N.
   mandate will not alone solve the dispute between Sudan and South Sudan
   over who controls the area.

   According to Koul, what is required is a strong political decision by
   the governments of both countries to determine the final status of the
   area.

   "We urge the two countries to expedite their discussions over the
   issues ofAbyeiso that the final status ofAbyeiis determined before the
   end of this mandate. And this is what we really want as the people
   ofAbyei,"Koultold South Sudan in Focus.

   The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to extend the
   mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force forAbyei(UNISFA)
   and urged Khartoum, Juba and local communities to take all necessary
   steps to ensure that the area is effectively demilitarized and to fully
   cooperate with UNISFA.

   The Councilemphasizedthat theAbyeiareawillbe demilitarized from any
   forces, as well aslocalarmedmilitias. The only military allowed will
   beUNISFA and theAbyeiPolice Service.

   Sudan's transitional government reiterated its commitment to strengthen
   cooperation with UNISFA and the government of South Sudan to fully
   implement provisions outlined in theAbyeiprotocol.

   GeneralAbdulfatahAl Burhan, the head of the Sudanese Sovereign
   Council,said Sudanese leaders are ready to cooperate with authorities
   to resolve the dispute overAbyei.

   "We have discussed a lot of issues related to elevating more
   cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan, especiallytheissue of
   peaceful coexistence in the area. We also discussed how to strengthen
   cooperation for the establishment of a joint mechanism between the two
   countries, based on the previous agreement signed by both sides," said
   Al Burhan.

   Several attacks and counter attacks have been reported in
   theAbyeiregion over the past three months. More than 50 people have
   been killed, including women and children. Both theNgokDinka and the
   Misseriya Arab nomads have blamed each other for the deadly clashes.

   Mukhtar Babo Nimir, a paramount chief of the Sudanese Misseriya tribe,
   insisted that theMisseryiahave responded in self-defense to attacks
   from theNgokDinka. Buthe saidhe regretted loss of life on both sides.

   "Any disagreement among ourselves, our people will be affected. Even if
   one person is killed, we will be held responsible about this. We are
   supposed to live as one people, we have vast land that all of us can
   occupy. Our ancestors lived together for hundreds of years, and yet
   they were not educated. Why can't we live together as onepeople?"Nimir
   told South Sudan in Focus.

   YousifMalok, who is from theNgokDinka, and heads theAbyeiCivil Society
   in Sudan, said he is not optimistic about UNISFA's role in the
   region,sayingthe U.N. mission failedin the pastto protect lives and
   property in theAbyeiarea.

   "Our opinion is that UNISFA has failed in fulfilling its mandate. Now,
   when this mandate is again renewed, we wonder whether they are the
   sameforcesor something has been added to their mandate to protect local
   civilians. Are they empowered now to fulfil all their mandates that
   they have failed to carry out during the past?" askedMalok.

   Under the terms of U.N. resolution 2519, the Council extended the
   mandate for activities in the area bordering Sudan and South Sudan and
   reiterated its demand for both countries to provide full support for
   the mission, including removing any obstacles hindering efforts to
   protect civilians.

   The Security Council first authorized the deployment of a peacekeeping
   force toAbyeiin June 2011 following renewed violence, escalating
   tensions and population displacement in the area as Southern
   Sudanpreparedto formally declare its independence from the Sudan.

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