Foreign Affairs Minister Marial denies calling people of Abyei “Sudanese”
This statement quoted Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin referring to Dr. Luka Biong Deng, a son of Abyei, as a Sudanese.
March 22, 2016 (SSB) – South Sudanese Minister Barnaba Marial Benjaminhas denied referring to the people of Abyei as Sudanese. Marial spoke to the media late on Monday in Juba. This what he said.
“Members of the press, I would like to make a clarification because in the media it was quoted that the ministry of foreign affairs has said clearly that the people of Abyei, connected with the people of Abyei, I would like to make it clear with regard to Abyei protocol, the issue of Abyei is clearly stated that they have a joint sovereignty of the Republic of South Sudan and of the Republic of Sudan and any decision that is to be taken by the two governments, will rely on the people of Abyei decision through a referendum to decide which country they should belong to.
So the decision of Abyei nationality, whether they should belong to South Sudan or Sudan is purely of the nine Ngok Dinka – that will decide, through a referendum. That is what is contained in the protocol of Abyei which we signed as part of the comprehensive peace agreement. We all know, if you talk about the ethnicity of the Dinka of Abyei geographical and socially and culturally, you don’t get any Dinka outside the territory of South Sudan.
This is known. They are not like other ethnic groups that may find across the borders. We must know, even anthropologically, the Dinka are always known to be found in South Sudan. So I would like to stress to my brothers and sisters of Abyei that the government, as ministry of foreign affairs, has never made such statement that denies the right of the people of Abyei according to Abyei protocol to which the government adhere to through the auspices of the former president of South Africa Mbeki through the African Union High Implementation Penal. We would like to make that clear.
As for Dr. Luka Biong, Dr. Luka Biong was the minister in the office of the President like many other sons and daughters of Abyei who are working within the system of the government of South Sudan as nationals. So really to dwell on this issue that the ministry of foreign affairs quoted in certain circles, have denied the presence of sons and daughters of Abyei in South Sudan is not correct. This is no such quotation. We are aware, we would like to make this very clear that it is reflected in the document both Sudan and South Sudan as signed during the days of the comprehensive peace agreement that they have a joint sovereignty over Abyei until the sons [of] the nine Ngok Dinka decide in a referendum which country they would belong to and that is what the government will insist to have. So those sectors which are saying that we have thrown out the sons and daughters of Abyei is not true. That is why I have to call this special press conference so that we are clearly understood. We are still negotiating with Sudan through the African Union High Implementation Penal and my colleagues in Khartoum and media are aware of that engagement and the role of the African Union High Implementation Penal so that this issue of Abyei is resolved peacefully and through the right of the people concern – and that is the nine Ngok Dinka. Thank you very much.”
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