Chol Deng Alak, Head of the High Committee for the Abyei Referendum, accused Arab militia in the disputed Abyei area of engaging in “slavery” and forcibly displacing Ngok Dinka people.
Chol called on the Khartoum government to stop Arab militia from abducting children, referring to the practice as “slavery.” An Arab militia abducted a number of Ngok Dinka children in a raid in February.
He also urged the international community to monitor what he termed as “forceful displacement” of Ngok Dinka by Arab Misseriya militia in the area, accusing northerners of using Diffra area as a base to attack innocents in Abyei.
Chol was speaking upon his return to the Abyei area after serving as South Sudan’s ambassador to Russia. Former presidential advisor Telar Deng was appointed ambassador to Russia in October 2014.
Chol said that he will lobby for improved basic services for the people of Abyei.
“I decided to return back and stay in our area so that I can provide services. I left the embassy to stay in our area,” Chol told Radio Tamazuj.
The leading Ngok Dinka figure said his people will embrace peace in Abyei as determined by the International Court of Arbitration in the Hague.
“The Ngok Dinka people are not ready for disputes with their neighbours. So the Misseriya shouldn’t be deceived by the Khartoum government because they also have the rights to graze cattle even beyond Abyei area,” he said.
Chol was accompanied by the Inspector General of South Sudan Police Pieng Deng Kuol.