U.S. deplores recent violence in Sudan's Abbey area

[News_Editor]

U.S. deplores recent violence in Sudan's Abbey area

2011-03-09 23:09:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

JUBA, SOUTHERN SUDAN (BNO NEWS) -- The United States on Wednesday deplored the recent violent clashes in Sudan's Abbey area claimed by both North and South Sudan.

"The United States deplores the recent violence in the Abyei region of Sudan and calls on Northern and Southern Sudanese leaders to take immediate steps to prevent future attacks and restore calm," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

Abyei has witnessed a series of attacks in recent days that have killed more than 100 people and displaced thousands of people. In other areas, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the military wing of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) which governs Southern Sudan, clashed with armed rebels operating in North and South Sudan.

In Abbey, about 300 buildings were burned to the ground from a militia attack. In addition, at least 100 people were killed in clashes between SPLA forces and armed militias near Owuac in Upper Nile state where it is believed that renegade General George Athor is hiding.

Renegade leader Athor, a former Sudan People' Liberation Movement member, took up arms last year, alleging fraud in state elections after losing the gubernatorial race, but signed a ceasefire in February.

"This dangerous standoff is unacceptable for the Sudanese people, and we condemn the deployment forces by both sides. Their presence in Abyei stands in violation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and runs counter to efforts to reach agreement on the region’s final status," added Carney.

Last year, a referendum was held and resulted in Southern Sudan becoming the world's newest nation. The U.S. said the successful vote was but one step toward fulfilling the Sudan's obligations under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The referendum was the culminating point of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) ending two decades of civil war between the North and the South that killed some 2 million people and drove an estimated 4.5 million others from their homes. Under the CPA, the SPLA became the official army of South Sudan and the SPLM the ruling party.

Sudan's National Congress Party and the SPLM recently agreed on establishing a committee based in Abyei to review security arrangements relating to the annual migration. Abyei is considered the bridge between North and South.

"We urge this committee to immediately establish a presence in Abyei and to complete its security assessment and recommendations as quickly as possible. Both North and South must also provide the UN Mission in Sudan the full and unfettered access required to fulfill its mandate," remarked the Press Secretary.

The UN mission in Sudan is assessing the security and humanitarian situation where fighting has taken place as well as protecting civilians. The top UN envoy in Sudan said that both the North and South have made significant progress on a wide range of follow-up arrangements between the two states.

"We call on Presidents Bashir and Kiir to meet as soon as possible and demonstrate that they are serious about making urgent progress in talks to resolve Abyei's final status in a manner that addresses the needs of all communities and upholds the Abyei Protocol and the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration," concluded Carney.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-09