AU on the developments relating to Abyei dispute
22.05.2009 //
The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (UA), Jean Ping (picture), has been following the developments relating to Abyei dispute since the signing, on 8 June 2008, of the “Roadmap for the Return of the IDPs and Implementation of the Abyei Protocol”, in which the parties agreed to refer the issue to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), in The Hague.
The Chairperson of the Commission commends the Parties for their wisdom in resorting to legal means to resolve their differences on this matter, and for their commitment to abiding by and fully implementing the final outcomes of the PCA, as stated in the Abyei Roadmap.
The Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the conclusion of the written and verbal presentations on the final settlement of the Abyei dispute by the two parties, and believes that these presentations should offer the PCA enough material to produce a fair and balanced assessment on the issue of Abyei. He further wishes to urge both parties to take concrete measures towards strengthening their partnership and to faithfully implement the ruling of the PCA in order to achieve lasting peace for the people of Abyei and begin to focus on providing the much needed development to the area.
The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s commitment to continue working with the parties in implementing all their commitments, including the Abyei Protocol, to ensure that lasting peace is achieved in the Sudan.
Addis Ababa, 20 May 2009