Chiefs in the Abyei Administrative Area have committed to supporting the local administration in bringing about development and security in the area.
The 20 chiefs made the pledge on Thursday during a meeting with Abyei Chief Administrator Chol Deng. They said they will help the government and its partners to construct the economic lines of the road from Abyei to Mayen Abun in Twic County, Warrap State, and the road from Abyei to Agok.
Abyei Paramount Chief Bulabek Deng Kuol told Radio Tamazuj that the internal roads will help reduce commodity prices in Abyei and neighboring states, especially during the rains.
“We the chiefs in Abyei met the chief administrator and discussed how to support the government and partners to have road accessibility from Abyei to Mayen Abun town of Twic and another road from Abyei to Agok,” he said. “These roads close during the rainy season and people will starve because of hunger. The Vietnamese force within UNISFA will support the initiative though there are challenges in getting murram and other road materials. Our role as a community is to create awareness among the people about the importance of road connectivity.”
Paramount Chief Deng further said that the chief administrator briefed them about the implementation of the four action points President Salva Kiir recommended during his visit to the Bahr el Ghazal region.
“The chief administrator also briefed us on security issues. As you know, President Kiir called on the chiefs of the Dinka Ngok and Twic to support peace while at his home village of AKuac,” Deng said. “That meeting came up with four main action points like the cessation of hostilities between two the communities, freedom of movement of goods and people, removal of other forces in Abyei Box, and the creation of a buffer zone between Abyei and Twic. So, the chief administrator briefed us on that and recommitted as chiefs to support these four action points.”
Meanwhile, Abyei Information Minister Ajak Deng Miyen said the meeting was about the construction of internal roads.
“The meeting was about internal roads within Abyei Box that need to be constructed and the chiefs reaffirmed their support for this initiative,” he said. “Our partners, the Vietnamese component of UNISFA, also promised supply materials and assist in the construction. The chief administrator appreciates the chiefs and the Vietnamese Battalion for their support.”