By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, October 4 -- How is the dispute about Abyei between Sudan and South Sudan to be resolved? After the September 27 high level meeting at the UN, the Communique stated:
"Participants noted that the AUHIP [African Union High level Implementation Panel, led by Thabo Mbeki] has submitted a comprehensive proposal regarding the Final Status of Abyei, and strongly encouraged the Parties to continue negotiations on this issue, with a view to reaching agreement before the Peace and Security Council meets to consider the report of the AUHIP."
Inner City Press right after that meeting tried to ask the UN's Herve Ladsous about Abyei, the UN and next steps, but Ladsous refused to answer. See video here.
Afterward South Sudan's chief negotiator Pagan Amum said, "The issue of Abyei is finished, no more discussions. The two countries will be expecting a solution from the African Union Peace and Security Council."
But the Communique "strongly encouraged the Parties to continue negotiations on this issue."
On October 4, Inner City Press asked US Ambassador Susan Rice about Amum's statement, and for the US view.Video here, from Minute 9:32.
Ambassador Rice replied, "We look forward to former president Thabo Mbeki's report, first to African Union Peace and Security Council then of course thereafter to the [UN] Security Council in which we expect this issue to be addressed."
Of Mbeki, Rice said "he has tabled a proposal that is consistent with Abyei protocol and the finding of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, we think that's a worthy and valid proposal and we hope it will remain the basis of the negotiating efforts going forward."
Moments later, Inner City Press put the same question to Sudan's Permanent Representative Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman, who said that the dispute about Abyei should be addressed through "direct negotiations." Video here, from Minute 3:12.
So that is the range: South Sudan says the AU PSC should just rule on the matter and the two countries accept it unconditionally; Sudan says it should be negotiated directly between the parties. The US' stated position is that the parties should negotiated, but on the basis of the Mbeki and, presumably, AU PSC proposal.
With Mbeki slated to visit both Khartoum and Juba before presenting his report to the AU PSC on October 21, perhaps that is as close to "direct negotiations" as things will get.
Inner City Press asked asked Sudan's Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman about the blockage in aid getting to Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. Video here, from Minute 5:55. He said, there is in blockage, as soon as the three institutions, the Arab League, African Union and United Nations, along with the representative of the government of Sudan meet, they will work out the modalities." Watch this site.
From the US Mission transcript:
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you, the communiqué that came out after the Sudan / South Sudan meeting during the General Debate said that the two parties should continue to negotiate on the unresolved issues. But Pagan Amun, the chief negotiator of South Sudan, said there's no need to negotiate anymore in Abyei, that a proposal was made that Sudan turned down and now it's just sort of in the hands of the high-level panel. What's the U.S.'s view? Should South Sudan continue to negotiate this issue of Abyei, as was said in the communiqué, or what's the next step to actually solve this unresolved issue?
Ambassador Rice: Well, we look forward to former President Thabo Mbeki's report first to the AUPSC and then of course thereafter to the Security Council in which we expect this issue to be addressed. He has tabled a proposal that is consistent with the Abyei protocol and the findings of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. We think that's a worthy and valid proposal and we hope it will remain the basis of the negotiating efforts going forward.
Ambassador Rice: Well, we look forward to former President Thabo Mbeki's report first to the AUPSC and then of course thereafter to the Security Council in which we expect this issue to be addressed. He has tabled a proposal that is consistent with the Abyei protocol and the findings of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. We think that's a worthy and valid proposal and we hope it will remain the basis of the negotiating efforts going forward.
