AFRICA/SUDAN - Agreement reached on Abyei, an oil-rich territory disputed over by northern and southern Sudan

Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – An accord has been reached on Abyei, the land that has been in dispute between northern and southern Sudan, which has lead to the recent fighting over its control (see Fides 21/5/2008). The agreement, which was signed June 8 by Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir, by the Vice-President, and by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayadrit and Vice-President Ali Osman Taha, plans for the establishment of a provisory administration of Abyei and the return of the refugees who had fled from the fighting.
The accord has concentrated on four points dealing with security arrangements, the return of the displaced persons, the interim administration and the international arbitration.
Under the security arrangements, a battalion of new Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) has to be deployed to the area within ten days. The new battalion will be reinforced by police forces. In addition, a UN peacekeeping force is allowed to take place in the disputed area. Once all these forces are deployed, the parties have to withdraw their troops “outside the administrative area of Abyei.”
According to the agreement, the National Unity Government has to take the necessary measures to achieve the return program in partnership with the international agencies and organizations and through the Administration of Abyei.
As to the local government, the President has within two weeks to appoint the interim administration. The President the interim administration is to be proposed by the SPLM (Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement, that governs South Sudan) and the Vice-President of by the NCP (Khartoum). Both are to be from Abyei.
On the difficult question of the distribution of oil revenues from the area, the real motive behind the dispute, the accord specifies that “Without prejudice to the sharing wealth formula contained in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, until the final demarcation of Abyei area in accordance with the arbitration decision and taking into account the outcome, the revenue of the oil fields located region subject to arbitration will be shared in accordance with the arrangements for the apportionment of wealth included in Abyei Protocol.”
According to Abyei Protocol, signed in 2004 between north and south Sudan, the oil revenue from oil produced in Abyei area shall be shared during the interim period as follows: fifty percent to the National Government; forty two percent to the Government of Southern Sudan; two percent to Bahr el Ghazal region; two percent to Western Kordofan; two percent locally with the Ngok Dinka; two percent locally with the Misseriya people.
On the international arbitration, the accord states that, “the parties resort to a professional specialized arbitration body agreed upon by the parties to resolve the conflict over the findings of the experts of Abyei Boundary Commission.”
The entire arbitration effort must not exceed six months from the date of establishment of the arbitral tribunal, although it may eventually be prolonged another 3 months. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 9/6/2008)