South Sudan Presidential Advisor for Security Affairs Tut Gatluak Manime and Deputy President of the Sudan Sovereign Council Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo pose for a picture with a document on Abyei. | Photo: Courtesy.

South Sudan and Sudan have signed a document in Khartoum committing themselves to adhere to Abyei Protocols and peacefully resolve the outstanding issues.

The deal was witnessed by the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa and the Special Envoy of the Inter-governmental Authority on Development to South Sudan.

The communique directed both countries to deliver social services, provide security and promote community dialogue to foster coexistence and unity of the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities in Abyei.

The joint meeting resolved to prioritize humanitarian assistance and developmental projects for the inhabitants of the Abyei region.

The agreement reached on Tuesday tasks both governments to provide basic services such as hospitals, schools, clean drinking water, and road infrastructures.

The Presidential Advisor on Security Tut Gatluak signed on behalf of the South Sudan Government.

“Both countries must have a final solution for the Abyei area issue. South Sudan and Sudan have to do that to satisfy both sides of Dinka Ngok and Misseriya so that we can have development and stability,” Gatluak said.

“We appreciate you in this meeting for us to reach for the final solution between the two countries.”

On his part, the Deputy Chairperson of Sudan Sovereign Council Mohamad Hamdan Daglo Himiti said the issue of Abyei must be resolved in fair manner acceptable to both sides.

“We are insisting that the Abyei issue must be a fair issue for both sides, and we are not to give any side of South or North,” he said.

“I wish we will reach for a solution concerning this issue of Abyei which is is a real and fundamental issue that needs solution.”

“Now we give it a priority because if not, with this situation we have in Khartoum which is a very bad situation, we cannot conduct this meeting here, but we do it because relatives from both sides in Abyei are dying every day.”

The Abyei box covers 4,000 square miles of desert, farmland, and oil fields located along the undefined border between Sudan and South Sudan.

It is the traditional homeland of the Ngok Dinka, but Misseriya herders seasonally traverse Abyei and other North-South border areas with their cattle in search of water and pasture in the dry season and to trade goods.

Abyei has since been claimed by both countries and has been a source of conflict – with constant deadly raids blamed on militia groups for many years.

Meanwhile, the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan Dr. Ismail Wais said he believes the mutual interest between the two countries will compel them to resolve the Abyei issue.

“The two countries have shown their interest to continue the dialogue and it’s good for the people of Abyei that the discussion has started and as you know it is the second time in two years,” Wais said.

“It’s very important that both the people of Sudan and South Sudan expect from their leaders, that those are one people of one nation in two countries and with that spirit, we hope they will find an amicable solution in the near future.”

The Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa Hanna Serwaa Tetteh called on both countries to continue with the same spirit of the conversation.

“I would say to the people of South Sudan as encouraging, that leadership of both are having this conversation and as United Nations.”

“The UN Office of the special envoy to the Horn of Africa and also UNISFA which is maintaining the peace operations in Abyei are ready to give support to this process, in order to help it to succeed. We recognized that a political process required a political well.”