The Ngok Dinka staged protests in Abyei on Tuesday condemning the African Union Peace and Security Council, which refuses to conduct a unilateral referendum in October to decide on the future of the region.

Khartoum opposes the referendum initially outlined by the African Union (AU). It would exclude the majority of the nomadic Misseriya who spend a few months of each year in Abyei for grazing. The Dinka Ngok who reside in Abyei were granted the right to vote by Juba.

The head of the Abyei civil society organizations, Dr. Rau Manyiel Rau, told Radio Tamazuj the AU is  “irresponsible”, and that a petition was handed over to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (Unisfa) stationed in the area.

Dr Rau reaffirmed the commitment of the civil society organizations to conduct a referendum in Abyei in October, “in accordance with the proposal of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP).”

“The international community and the AU will be held responsible for any repercussions following the results of the referendum,” he warned.

For his part, Misseriya leader Hamad Al Dodo commended the AU position rejecting any unilateral referendum held by the Ngok Dinka.

Al Dodo confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the decision by the AU has “averted imminent confrontation between the two tribes inhabiting the area.”