South Sudan/Sudan (Abyei)

Leaders from various groups in the oil-contested region of Abyei, whose territorial ownership remains one of the most contentious issues between Sudan and South Sudan, have accused the African Union (AU) of exhibiting ignorance about the status of the area.

Residents of the disputed region of Abyei have voted overwhelmingly to join South Sudan in an unofficial referendum. But the Arabic-speaking Misseriya nomadic community favouring union with Sudan boycotted the vote.

Will Abyei’s long-term future lie with Sudan or South Sudan? With a referendum about to occur on this issue, our IRIN experts not only outline what Khartoum’s and Juba’s strategic interests are in the region, they also wonder if in the cases of security and stability the referendum represents no choice at all.

Counting of ballots has begun in an unofficial referedum held in the flashpoint region of Abyei to decide whether the oil-rich district should join Sudan or South Sudan. Referendum organisers started the counting on Wednesday just as the Arabic-speaking Misseriya tribe, loyal to Sudan, vowed to hold their own referendum.

Residents of the flashpoint Abyei region claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan voted Monday in an unofficial referendum to decide which country they belong to, a move the African Union warned was a "threat to peace".

South Sudan said on Wednesday that it does not support the conduct of a unilateral referendum to determine the final status of the oil-contested border region of Abyei, questioning what its outcome would achieve if it is not recognised by either country.

South Sudanese government unexpectedly issued strong administrative instructions, suspending all announcements and mobilisation campaigns in support of the Abyei referendum, according to senior officials.

South Sudan maintains its full support of October’s unilateral vote to determine the final status of Abyei, despite the failure to reach a deal with neighbouring Sudan, its vice-president said Friday.

Participants who attended the consultative meeting welcomed the AUPSC (AU Peace and Security Council) decision to visit Abyei in October and that it looks forward to its assessment and recommendations.

Senior politicians and community leaders from Abyei have set next month for the conduct of the long-awaited self-determination referendum in the region, but are yet to agree on the date.