UN chief, world leaders call for ‘urgent’ formation of Abyei commission

The United Nations Secretary General said that world powers at a summit in New York last Friday called for immediate steps to prepare for the Abyei referendum, which is scheduled for 9 January 2011. The oil-rich Abyei region will choose whether to remain as part of the Republic of Sudan or join the new nation of South Sudan, if the southerners vote for independence.The ruling party of the Sudan does not openly oppose holding the referenda on time, but officials have expressed doubts that it will be possible. Voter registration has not yet taken place. The formation of the Abyei Referendum Commission has been delayed due to political struggle over the composition of the commission. The commission was mandated by a national law passed in late 2009. Additionally, the borders of Abyei have not been demarcated on the ground. The territory’s boundaries were delimited on paper by the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague. That ruling was accepted as final and binding by both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

According to a written statement by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, the diplomacy last Friday resulted in agreement about the need to speed up preparations for the Sudan Sudan referendum and the Abyei referendum. The participants “noted the delays in the preparations for the referenda and called for the urgent establishment of the Abyei Referendum Commission and for the acceleration of the work of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission. They expressed willingness to assist the joint efforts by the parties to expedite these processes.”

President Barack Obama stated the position of the government of the United States: “the will of the people of southern Sudan and the region of Abyei must be respected regardless of the outcome [of the referenda].”

The United Kingdom endorsed holding the referenda without delay. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Henry Bellingham said “the only way forward is through peaceful, credible referenda on self-determination for Southern Sudan and on the status of Abyei that take place on time and whose outcomes are respected by all.” His remarks were reported by the UK Mission at the United Nations.