The Civil Society Organizations in the Abyei Special Administrative Area (ASAA) demonstrated on Thursday 31st October for the remembrance of the community plebiscite in 2013 and called for the recognition of the results.
The demonstrators held placards such as “Take the oil and leave our land”, “Abyei referendum is the final solution” and “Referendum means development and peace”
The chairperson of the Abyei Youth Union, Mr. Deng Aguer Deng said upon handing over the memorandum to the government that Abyei citizens came out to demand the recognition of the referendum’s results.
On her part, Achai Arop Kuol one of the demonstrators said that Abyei joining South Sudan is the option of the Ngok Dinka, calling for the results recognition.
The representative of the traditional authority, Mr. Bagat Makuac Abiem, and Chief of Manyuar of the Nine Ngok chiefdoms said they will continue to press the government of South Sudan to recognize the referendum’s results.
Makuac said there is no other option apart from the referendum and go ahead for peace and development.
In response, the government official spokesperson and the Head Administrator for Information and Communications, Hon. Bulis Koc Aguar said the Chief Administrator has received the memo and it would be sent to the presidency today, Friday.
In October 2013, the people of Abyei voted by 99.98% in favor of joining South Sudan in a unilateral plebiscite, however, the results were not honored.
It is worth mentioning that last week another peaceful demonstration was organized by Abyei Voice for Security and Stability, AVSS calling for a self-rule in the region.
