|
The appointment of a chief administrator for the contested oil district of Abyei by Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir is a welcome step, given that this issue had become an obstacle to bringing about a settlement in the region.
The fighting in Abyei about three months ago came close to re-igniting the north-south civil war. "I think this is the last hurdle that we had and it's now cleared," said Dirdiri Mohammad Ahmad, the National Congress Party official responsible for Abyei.
But now that this process is finalised, it is time that matters moved forward. The agreement between the Sudanese government and officials from the south for a joint administration was reached more than three years ago and the gains, therefore, should be preserved.
Otherwise, both sides will continue to be locked in an endless cycle of violence and instability.
|
