The Abyei Youth Union in a statement issued on Wednesday said it has rescinded calls for the expulsion from the area of 38 workers who hail from the neighboring Twic County of Warrap State.
Last month, fighting broke out between elements from Twic County and sections of the Ngok Dinka of Abyei over territorial boundaries, especially in Aneet and other surrounding areas.
The clashes which led to causalities and destruction of property on sides prompted the local youth leadership in Abyei to announce the expulsion of the humanitarian and other workers out of fear of reprisals.
Chol Lual, the president of the Abyei Youth Union, said they have revoked the resolution and allowed the workers to resume their activities.
“We had earlier issued a document to expel the workers because we did not want them to be killed and we made it for their safety,” Lual said. “They are 38 people working at several NGOs, companies, and with UNISFA.”
“We abolished the order because the people are interested in peace and if the people chose peace, it means that there is nothing bad going to happen to them. Secondly, they are South Sudanese and Abyei is part of South Sudan so they have a right to work anywhere,” he added.
The Abyei community paramount chief, Bulebek Deng Kuol, welcomed the move by the youth and said every South Sudanese enjoys the right to work and reside in the area without segregation.
“Yes, the youth were the ones who initiated this and we were saying that Abyei is part of South Sudan and if everybody finds a place of his choice to live and work, he has the right,” Chief Deng said. “We talked to the youth and they informed us that they have revoked their order and those workers are now working in their organizations and everything is going on smoothly in Abyei.”
For his part, the Abyei security advisor, Kelek Kon, said security has relatively improved but revealed that some armed Twic elements attacked areas in Abyei’s Rumamer County on 26 and 27 February.