South Sudan’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Francis Mading Deng has written to President Salva Kiir explaining why Abyei should be given autonomous rule.

In his open letter to the head of state, Mading argued that peace, security, stability, and development in Abyei should be seen strategically in the interest of all its neighboring communities and the two Sudans.

“To reiterate the point made at the outset of this letter, unlike the Area Administration, which represents the government of South Sudan, the Ngok Dinka community does not of course speak for the government, but they hope to reinforce the efforts of the government of South Sudan in its efforts to ensure peace, security, and stability for their Ngok Dinka people of Abyei,” he stated.

The veteran politician highlighted that the reasons mentioned were the intention behind the proposal for the ‘proposed interim self-rule arrangement.’

The former diplomat alluded to the potential of Abyei which he said could contribute to peace, security, and stability between the two Sudans and in the wider African Arab region and beyond.

“All the regional and international stakeholders should therefore cooperate to reinforce and consolidate this strategic vision for Abyei,” Mading stressed.

Recently, a senior UN official said the ongoing war in Sudan and political instability in South Sudan have stalled discussions on Abyei’s final status and border issues as quoted by Radio Miraya.

The UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, told the UN Security Council that the UN Interim Force, UNISFA, is on standby to support the resumption of the Joint Security Mechanism, which last met in July 2023, and the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, which last convened in 2017.

She reiterated the call for the withdrawal of South Sudanese troops from the area.

“Another critical challenge is the continued presence of South Sudanese security personnel in Southern Abyei. This deployment violates the 2011 agreement between Sudan and South Sudan on the administration and security of Abyei,” ASG Pobee told Radio Miraya.

“It has also resulted in repeated restrictions on UNISFA’s freedom of movement in contradiction of the status of forces agreement.”

Meanwhile, the South Sudan Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Cecilia Adeng, said the deployments are intended as a temporary measure.

“The deployment of South Sudan security personnel has been a temporary measure aimed at safeguarding lives and preventing escalations of inter-communal violence,” said Adeng.

“Our intent has been de-escalatory and focused on the protection of civilians. We are open to collaborating with UNISFA to explore alternative security arrangement that meets the needs of our communities while protecting the materialization status of the region.”

For in-depth information, you can read Francis Mading Deng’s argument for Abyei’s proposal for self-rule in an open letter to the President on page.

“Another critical challenge is the continued presence of South Sudanese security personnel in Southern Abyei. This deployment violates the 2011 agreement,” UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee.