Sudan’s Deputy Ambassador in Juba Magdi Mofadal said the contested area of Abyei will not be included in national and state constituencies for Sudan’s 2015 elections.
This announcement came during a meeting of the Joint Technical Committee assigned to demarcate the border between South Sudan and Sudan yesterday in Juba.
He said the Abyei area has a special status determined by the International Court of Arbitration in 2009 and that the dispute is not on the border, but rather on whether it should remain in Sudan or join South Sudan through a referendum.
Commenting on the meeting of the Joint Technical Committee, Magdi said the purpose was to begin to resolve border disputes between the two countries. He pointed out that the two sides will demarcate the agreed borders and reach an agreement on the disputed areas.
For his part, Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said the disputed areas with Sudan include Heglig, Megenis Mountains, Daba Fukhar, Um Dhalwith, Kafia Kinji, and Hofrat El Nihas.
The minister confirmed that they will continue negotiating on those areas. He expressed optimism that they will reach an agreement on the disputed areas soon.