The paramount chief of the Ngok Dinka has accused Khartoum’s appointee to the Abyei Joint oversight Committee (AJOC) of seeking to resettle Misseriya tribesmen and armed militants in the disputed territory, which lies between Sudan and South Sudan.
These accusations come after a visit by the AJOC co-chariman Ali Hassan Nimir to the north of Abyei region at the end of last week.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Friday, the Ngok Dinka chief, Sultan Bulabek Kuol emphasized that the Ngok Dinka will not recognize the AJOC committee formed by Khartoum and Juba until authorities find the perpetrators of the killing of their late paramount chief Kuol Adol.
He further noted that there have been mutual visits between Khartoum and Juba to discuss the outstanding issues between the two countries, but they did not bring anything new on the issue of Abyei.
However, on the other hand, Omda Jagar Hamdein, a Misseriya tribesman confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the head of AJOC visited Al-Sateib and other areas of northern Abyei last week.
Jagar pointed out that the Misseriya pastoralists have crossed through Badia area to northern Abyei for the purpose of grazing, denying the existence of any friction between the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka apart from individual behaviors that arise from time to time.
“We received Mr. Ali Hassan Nimir today as new chairman of AJOC committee. It is the first time for him to visit the area. He was appointed since 4 months ago. Al-Sateeb area in northern Abyei is secured and the security situation is stable. Nimir is on his official visit,” Jagar noted.