Abyei Area

The acting co-chair of Abyei Joint Oversight Committee says a meeting of its members on Abyei will not take place unless it is sanctioned by the presidents of South Sudan and Sudan.

“The two AJOCs will also not meet without permission from the two Presidents and – especially from our side,” Mr. Deng Mading told Eye Radio.

He pointed out that the committee would also not meet unless the UN’s Interim Security Force for Abyei, UNISFA, submits a report on the killing of Ngok Dinka paramount chief, Kuol Deng.

“The agreement between AJOC members before the killing of paramount chief was to declare Abyei area as free of small arms,” said Mr. Mading, “and we also demanded the commander of UNISFA to endorse article 7 of the UN mandate that they can disarm any person who is holding an arm.”

The AJOC was formed in 2011 to oversee the administration of Abyei area and to take responsibility of security issues in the area.

Its functions include meeting monthly to discuss reconciliation, development, humanitarian planning, and migration of IDPs.