The deputy Paramount Chief of the Ngok Dinka, Nyol Fagot Deng, on Sunday called on South Sudan’s presidency to conduct a full investigation into ousted foreign minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin’s statement thats Abyei-born academic Luka Biong Deng is Sudanese.
Barnaba was removed from his post after it was revealed that he signed the document, which was sent to the United Nations and suggested that Abyei is not part of South Sudan. Abyei is a disputed territory between Sudan and South Sudan.
Nyol stressed the importance of revealing the circumstances of the incident, pointing out that there may have been others who participated in creating the document which he claimed was fueling tribalism.
Deng said people in Abyei are very happy for the removal of Barnaba Marial by President Kiir, describing the decision as brave.
“We are very happy that the President has taken this brave decision to remove the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” he said. “If he described Luka Biong as a Sudanese national that means he don’t want Abyei area to be part of South Sudan.”
Meanwhile, Chol Mawien, the secretary for political affairs of Abyei in the Sudan’ National Congress Party (NCP), has called on Juba government not to link the Abyei issue to its internal conflicts.
In a statement to Sudan News Agency (SUNA), he called for for the implementation of 2011 agreement between the two countries and the formation of joint government in Abyei.