Each month that passes heighten the discussion on Abyei’s participation in the South general elections in 2024.
The argument is based on legal and political grounds that Abyei is not officially recognized as part of the South Sudan territory by the two disputing countries, that is, Sudan and South Sudan.
Others said the area is governed by South Sudan.
‘Umbrella Program’ on Friday 28th July 2023 hosted Romano John a legal consultant at the South Sudan legislative assembly and Hon. Jok Alor a former member of the national legislative assembly.
Mr. Romano believes that elections will be held in Abyei in 2024 for the area is part of the country’s ten states and three administrative areas, its people got South Sudan nationality, and South Sudan’s symbols of sovereignty such as currency, legal system, and school curriculum are obviously there.
While Hon. Alor thinks that Abyei will not form a constituency in the upcoming South Sudan elections in 2024.
“South Sudan transition constitution’s article 2 (b) conditioned Abyei to be part of the country with the determination of its final status which is not yet solved. Abyei people as individuals could vote in the elections for, they have national IDs of South Sudan” he said.
Hon. Alor suspects a hidden agreement between Sudan and South Sudan to divide the area because both countries do have presence in the north and south of the area respectively.
“If the elections are held in the areas where South Sudan has control without Sudan’s protest this will prove my suspicion of hidden agreement,” Hon.Alor stressed.
He said that SPLM has betrayed the Abyei people and it is very unfortunate that the area sons and daughters in the party don’t see, protest it, and put their people before the reality.
