Abyei region of the Sudan unlikely take self-determination vote (africaleader)

Southern Sudanese repatriated to sit on the shore of the River Nile on arrival at the main port of Juba after 17 days on a boat in Khartoum on 17 December. More than 55 000 residents of the South is returned in advance of 9 January referendum on independence of South.Benedicte Desrus/ReutersEnlarge by Maggie Fick, corresponding / 17 December 2010 Juba, Sudan

SNV Netherlands Development Organization funding a very cool project in Sudan that allows local journalists travelling in different regions of Sudan to report on the key issues for the future of their country. The project, called "Juba Briefings," began earlier this year with a question about tenure issues land in Eastern Equatoria state in the South East. The idea behind the project proposed by his name, is to inform people in Juba on what is happening across the country that many citizens of the lively new capital could not travel frequently places outside of Juba, as Torit, for example, the capital of Eastern Equatoria).

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The second edition was published this week, and you can read in the form in PDF format by clicking here. It focuses on capturing the voice of the people in the region of Abyei - Dinka Ngok and Misseriya populations directly affected by the results of high-level negotiations now occur on the future of Abyei.

See below for some excerpts of this briefing, entitled "" Abyei voice: messages for the future. "" The great thing about this special edition of the publication is contains the opinions in support of the people of Abyei, collected by journalists three different parts of the country. The sad thing is that most of these views demonstrates a strongly polarized situation on the ground between pastoral Misseriya people who browsed season thanks to Abyei and Ngok Dinka, which call for the region in their homeland.

Nyiol Paguot, elder Dinka:

"The future of Abyei is under threat, because the Government wants to reign over us by force." Our main concern is that the program could address the area once we decide to join the South… People waiting to retaliate. Today people are being seen missing. We suspect that Misseriya, integrated and Arab militias are responsible for this. »

Mahasin Adam, a woman Misseriya 20 years:

"Many people think that the Abyei question concerns only Misseriya and Dinka, but the rest of the country which can drag us into the war." All countries should work hard to resolve the problem. I hope there is peace throughout the country, not only in Abyei because Sudan is like a body - part is that everything is affected.

Last Monday, Special Envoy of President Barack Obama in Sudan, General Scott Gration said reporters on a conference call was possible Abyei self-determination vote - separate referendum South but expected (by the 2005 peace agreement) for the same date - to occur on time… or not at all. Integration makes reference to the possibility of a political solution to Abyei. This euphemism for a negotiated settlement that would be divided between North and South - where exactly the new border could draw is strongly contested unsurprisingly - is most likely more practically discussed as possible. This Regulation shall be considered the last chapter of months of negotiations between Khartoum and Juba, but years and years of agreements, protocols, decisions and promises - not to be dramatic, but all these things have been broken or repealed. In considering whether this possibility could become a reality, it is useful to consider the words of Ms. Adam quoted above. That means for the future vision of the post-referendum, Sudan, or two Sudans Abyei fracture?

-Maggie Fick is a freelance journalist based in Juba, Sudan who blogs here.

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