Abyei: Another Polisario in the offing? By: Ladu Lomeling, SOUTH SUDAN
JUNE 01/2011, SSN; The humanitarian situation in Abyei is being described as “awful and desperate”, with more than 20,000 people uprooted from their villages facing appalling conditions following the invasion of the region by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). As al-Beshir outrageously continue to fan the flames of war in Abyei, what should be done now is for the “tiger to get tamed,” lest we’ll witness escalation of violence that cannot be abated without prompt intervention by the international community: including the UN and the African Union (AU). All indications are suggestive that, al-Beshir’s rhetoric of being the “first person to recognize the independence of the South”, are but simply cheap political gimmick! He wanted to exonerate himself from the ICC – which is hunting him for arrest on alleged crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur. Yet, as war still rages on in Darfur, the NCP is now adamantly provoking another in the oil-rich Abyei area. But, who stands to loose, if not the NCP? The days of the NCP in power are truly now diminishing seriously: for it cannot sustain any full-fledged war with the South after July 9th – let alone reckon confrontation flash-points like Southern Kordufan and Southern Blue Nile. The NCP is now “deformed beyond reform”, and might definitely invoke resentment from a cross-section of the populace in the North who are beginning to enjoy the dividends of peace (with the 2005 truce) after decades of economic stagnation under the brutality of al-Beshir’s Islamist reign of terror. The North is still grappling with the ravages of poverty, disease and unemployment resultant of the US slummed economic embargo on the Sudan – which is still intact till al-Beshir is arrested and made to face justice at The Hague (ICC)! Without any doubt, the NCP is vehemently insistent that Abyei is a Northern territory owing to no specific interest than her oil-wealth…thus, is extremely desperate to annex it by employing force of arms! What then is the position of the South (SPLM/A) in this regard? It seems the window of opportunity for an amicable peaceful resolution of the Abyei problem is now tightly shut – the only option supposedly left is a military approach. Yet, matters of war shouldn’t be haphazardly rushed into without seeking for political engagement; or after soliciting involvement of the world actors. It can only be prudent enough for Abyei to be administered directly as a UN protectorate pending final results of her self-determination plebiscite. Otherwise, it might degenerate into another “Polisario”, hence detrimental to the future cooperation between the South and North…leading to instability of the region! One important thing to bear in mind is that, the North truly needs the South in the areas of trade, diplomacy and politico-economic regional integration for it’s survival as an entity and gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa. President Salva Kiir did clearly indicate in many fora that the nascent state in the South will help lobby the ICC to drop charges against al-Beshir – a gesture of friendship which is being taken for granted by the North amidst al-Beshir’s isolation. As an expression of our disgust toward the action of the NCP, we should go to the streets in both the entire South and Diaspora; and petition the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – legally demanding that the SAF immediately withdrew from Abyei unconditionally. The United Nations’ Security Council (UNSC) should expeditiously adopt a resolution for Abyei to exercise her referendum (within a specified time-frame) under the auspices of the UN. It should also effect a no-fly zone over Abyei to avert the NCP from carrying on with it’s current indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilians in the area. Once this is done, there should be a buffer zone created to separate the two armies (SPLA and SAF): with a clear mandate (chapter 7) to protect civilians from any military aggression. The question of Abyei must now be considered a top priority of the UNSC; and both NCP and the SPLM must adhere to fully implementing the outstanding issues in the CPA prior to July 9th through establishing a “joint committee” comprising the CPA signatories and the friends of IGAD. We all conspicuously comprehend that, the NCP is making unilateral decisions triggered toward violating the CPA, just to provoke the SPLM/A to succumb to it’s war melodies – yet, the latter has tactfully avoided getting lured many a time! Although the UN, AU, IGAD and the International Community often habitually drag feet whenever it comes to using the “carrot and stick” method against al-Beshir’s weird politicking (citing non-alignment into affairs of sovereign states) … I do strongly think time is now ripe for flexibility and pragmatic action must be embarked on to discipline the NCP’s unwarranted wrath and on-slaught in Abyei. NATO should get involved since IGAD and AU have all proven to be toothless bull-dogs…in solving the problems of the continent. Why are the world-bodies always playing it “sweet” with al-Beshir, yet he’s seriously abrogating the provisions of the CPA? Does it imply that they’re accomplices to his crimes; or are simply playing double-standards at the expense of the lives of the people of Abyei? Conversely, it’ll be sincerely immoral for the international community to deny the people of Abyei justice in the face of the atrocities they suffered at the hands of the NCP bullies…whilst, they get annihilated in broad daylight on pretext of preserving the Messiriya’s grazing rights in the area. The NCP is seriously reneging on it’s claimed commitment to good-neighborliness with the independent South: by waging a proxy war through unruly stooges in the likes of renegades such as, George Athor, Oliny Uluak and Peter Gadet – aimed at destabilizing the South. Some political analysts have jumped into the bandwagon by arguing that Abyei must be treated with “caution”; and are blaming the SPLM/A led government of meddling in affairs alien to it’s jurisdiction. They cite inclusion of Abyei in the Transitional Constitution as a clear violation of the CPA by the SPLM… But, much as it strangely sounds convincing to many, it is really illogical to concur with such hypothesis which grants the North the audacity to levy claim over Abyei. Instead, it’ll be rational enough for the South to strive at ensuring that the ruling of the International Court of Arbitration must be fully respected by the NCP, if not they should face sanctions for their mischief! We must not weaken our bargaining power over Abyei by only concentrating on the “Southern Problem”, but rather remain resolute and vigilant in ensuring that the trouble-shooters accounts for their irresponsible actions. We cannot afford to loose Abyei! The other unprincipled political parties are beginning to feel indifferent toward the fate of the people of Abyei; arguing that the SPLM/A is dragging the South into war over the issue of Abyei. Yet, we ought not to regard the question of Abyei from diversionary party interest than to construe the fact that Abyei is part and parcel of the aspiration of the South since the 1900s…A people’s destiny is deliberately being held hostage under duress, yet we prefer sitting on the fence. The people of Abyei like the rest of humanity have the legitimate right to life, dignity and justice; especially at this crucial time of being subjected to “ethnic cleansing” by the NCP’s war-machinery as the South prepares for her full independence. What will happen to Abyei after the “Presidency” is dissolved in July? Will it become a no-man’s land? All intentions of the NCP are becoming visible even to the blind that, they are destined to annex Abyei and other parts of our frontiers simply because of the oil-wealth found in these areas. I’d like to reiterate by congratulating Dr. Luka Biong Deng, the former Minister of Cabinet Affairs at the Federal Government for taking such a patriotic decision to resign his post owing to what he termed as “genocide” over his own people. How can any sane person serve under the NCP, whilst his nation is under peril being perpetrated by them? The international community, UN, AU and IGAD must now intervene to restrain the madness of al-Beshir’s NCP – and not through making eloquent speeches in the UNSC chambers, but by pragmatic and genuine involvement to salvage the people of Abyei once and for all! The writer is a journalist and can be reached on: [email protected]. The above views are solely his own and do not reflect the position of UN(MIS) whatsoever. 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