Ethiopia will "consider" deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei - official
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June 1, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia on Wednesday showed willingness
to deploy peace-keeping forces to the disputed border region of Abyei
to act as buffer between the armies of North and South Sudan.
JPEG - 15.3 kb
Military observers from Namibia serving with the international
peacekeeping operation is seen during a patrol in the region of Abyei
(UNMIS)
Ethiopia’s sign of interest comes after both north and south appeared
to agree to set up a demilitarized zone along their border to be
jointly patrolled. But after the initiative was announced by the
African Union, a spokesperson from Sudan’s ruling National Congress
Party played the down its significance saying it was one of many
proposals being considered.
Addis Ababa said it will consider dispatching peace keepers to the
region if asked by both parties.
North Sudan’s army occupied oil-producing Abyei on May 21 in
contravention on a 2005 peace deal between north and South Sudan.
Although South Sudan’s president has stated it will not return to war
over the occupation of Abyei, the possibility of a return to
north-south conflict is of concern to Sudan’s neighbouring countries.
Ethiopia’s foreign affairs spokesperson Ambassador Dina Mufti, told
Sudan Tribune that “both north and south Sudanese are seeking
deployment of an external and neutral force [to a border buffer zone]
accepted by both sides.”
“If the request comes from North and south Sudan, Ethiopia will
consider of offering peace keepers to Abyei region. This is because it
is Ethiopia’s long-term interest of seeing lasting peace and stability
in both north and south Sudan and at the entire region as a whole” the
Ethiopian spokesman said.
Mufti said that although Ethiopia had not received any official
request from either North or South Sudan but considering the behind
the scenes discussions they expected to be asked to send troops to the
region.
“This is expected however to my knowledge the Ethiopian government has
not yet received such a request,” he said.
The Ethiopian official denied rumors that the horn of Africa country
is already deploying thousands of its soldiers to Abyei.
“I can’t confirm that. That is not the case now. Ethiopia’s position
at this point is it will look into a possible request of peace force
if only comes from the two Sudanese sides’’ he stressed.
Ethiopia has cordial relation with both North and South Sudan and is
seen as a neutral player from both sides.
The northern army have said they will not leave the region until a
referendum is held to decide whether Abyei will join north or south
Sudan. As part of a 2005 peace South Sudan voted to separate from the
north in January, however a simultaneous plebiscite in Abyei did not
go ahead. The two parties to the peace deal could not agree on who was
allowed to vote.
On Wednesday South Sudan’s army rejected a northern proposal that the
administration of Abyei was rotated until a referendum could be held.
(ST)
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