Residents and traders in Abyei say life has returned to the town after years of depression due to insecurity. Residential areas, according to the Abyei newsletter, are active and new houses have appeared.
It quoted Ngok Dinka paramount Chief Bulabek Deng Kuol saying improved security has resulted in local people getting job opportunities at United Nations Interim force for Abyei (UNISFA).
Headquarters all together have encouraged many people to return to their old homes. Local business people expressed their happiness seeing their shops expand and making profits. They attributed it to the increase in the town’s population and to active trade in Amiet market. Chol Kuol Miyen is one of the local people from the area who returned to the town early 2013 and worked on selling food commodities but has now changed to sell spare parts and fuel. He told our reporters that he has benefited much from Dollar exchange and wished more people be employed. Because of the big population and few service places, looking for a meal late evening is an impossible mission in the town.
Awien Deng Arop is the owner of a restaurant that re-opened in 2012 before the withdrawal of Sudan Armed Forces from the town. She started with just two menus (lentils and beans), “I have so many clients I cannot count them. Some of them are those visiting the town but majority are local UN workers,” Awien explained. Hajir Chol was a tea maker in Amiet market and now working with the UN mission in the town.
She says life there has become better than any other place. “The situation here is very good our children are in schools. Since I came we don’t miss anything, I hope we will not be driven away again,” Hajir told Abyei Today. Authorities at the town municipality estimated 2800 families have returned to their houses. They said engineers are preparing to survey and plan the plots.