South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The South Sudan presidency has been urged to recognize the outcomes of a referendum held in the contested oil-producing region of Abyei in October 2013.
In October 2013, the Ngok Dinka of the disputed region of Abyei voted overwhelmingly to join South Sudan in a unilateral popular referendum, with 99.9 percent of voters supporting this decision.
In a surprise move, Juba declared the referendum illegal and refused to recognize the results, prompting public condemnation.
Justice Charles Abyei Jok, Chief Administrator of the Abyei Special Administrative Area, asserted that recognizing the Abyei community referendum of 2013 is the only viable solution to the Abyei status crisis.
“First, we will continue to urge our national leaders not to forget the Abyei Referendum of October 2013, which remains the only viable solution and should be recognized by the presidency and the government of South Sudan,” Jok stated while delivering his policy statement before parliament on Wednesday.
Jok emphasized that the citizens of the disputed area of Abyei will keep the results of the Abyei referendum alive in their hearts.
“Locally in Abyei, we will continue to mark the anniversary of our referendum. This way, we will keep the fervour alive in the hearts of Abyei citizens,” Jok said.
He pointed out that while Abyei remains under presidential authority, it has no access to grants-in-aid or loans from international institutions and donors.
“Income from Abyei’s 2 percent oil revenue can compensate for this lack of access to development funds. The Abyei Administrative government will keep reminding national leaders and the SPLM that these two issues are rights accorded by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005,” he said.
On December 27, 2024, the Abyei Area Legislative Council (AALC) formally endorsed the 2013 referendum.
This decision followed a recommendation from the South Sudan Governors’ Forum, which urged the council to take a stand on the matter.
In January 2025, the cabinet governance cluster, chaired by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, endorsed the disputed 2013 Abyei referendum.
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011, leaving the status of Abyei to be determined by a vote supervised by the African Union, which has yet to take place.
