Published: March 15, 2011
UN Expert: Abyei Conflict Could Derail Sudan's North-South Peace Process
The United Nations independent expert on human rights in Sudan Mohamed Chande Othman today warned that Abyei conflict could derail the implementation of the peace agreement that ended the country's civil war.
Residents of Abyei were due to hold a separate referendum simultaneously with the rest of Southern Sudan in January to decide whether to become part of the North or South. Attempts to create a referendum commission, however, remain deadlocked, amid feuds between communities in the area over the right to vote.
"Abyei still remains a flashpoint which could potentially derail the entire peace process. I urge the CPA [Comprehensive Peace Agreement] parties to take immediate action to calm the tensions in the region and urgently reach an agreement on all outstanding issues."-Mohamed Chande Othman
The referendum was seen as the culmination of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended two decades of civil war between the northern and southern Sudan. The CPA paved the way for the right to self-determination for Southern Sudan.
In a statement issued at the end of his visit to Sudan, conducted from 6 to 13 March, Mr. Othman urged authorities to investigate all reports of killings and attacks on civilians in Abyei and bring those responsible to justice.
Tension in the region has been high due to the delayed referendum for Abyei and restrictions on the movement of southerners who returned to cast their ballots in the Southern Sudan referendum.
Mr. Otman also voiced concern over increasing loss of life and displacement of people as a result of criminal activity, cattle rustling and inter-communal violence in Southern Sudan, and urged the Government there to ensure the protection of civilians even as it seeks measures to address insecurity in the region.
On northern Sudan, Mr. Othman said that law enforcement authorities there continued to violate the people's rights to fundamental rights and other freedoms, including the rights to the freedom of expression, assembly and association.
On Darfur, Mr. Othman said the human rights situation for civilians, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), there remains dire.
During a visit to Zamzam IDP camp near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, Mr. Othman said he had seen the plight of some of the people displaced by the fighting.
Their situation is deplorable, to say the least. I am concerned that without immediate humanitarian assistance the situation of these people, many of whom have been displaced for a second or third time, could reach catastrophic levels."- Mr. Othman
Source: United Nations
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