Sudan’s head of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) has urged South Sudan to approach the issue of the contested border region of Abyei issues with the same seriousness that it has the other issues addressed by their recent agreement with Khartoum.

In a press statement, the Sudanese Co-Chair, al-Khair al-Fahim Makki said last Saturday that the occurrence of any breakthrough in the negotiations on Abyei will reflect the seriousness of both parties in their quest to resolve these on-going disputes.

A deadline of the three months has been given for establishing a police force, executive administration of the area, and a legislative council.

Al-Fahim also expressed his optimism regarding the security matrix’s success and efficiency in its execution, confirmed Sudan’s commitment to bringing about peaceful coexistence with the South Sudan-aligned Dinka Ngok.

South Sudan and Sudan signed a security matrix earlier this month to implement an earlier security agreement which addressed concerns over the border and oil production.  However, the issue of Abyei, a disputed region which was supposed to join South Sudan in a referendum to determine its fate in January 2011, remains unclear.