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Sudan reiterates claim to disputed Abyei

Xinhua, January 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Sudanese government reiterated Tuesday that the Abyei area, which is disputed between Sudan and South Sudan, belongs to Sudan based on "regional and international decisions."

"Affiliation of Abyei has been decided for Sudan in accordance with regional and international decisions," Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters on Tuesday.

Ghandour's remarks came just one day after a visit by South Sudan's foreign minister to Khartoum.

"Abyei is Sudanese, and its affiliation is decided by decisions of the International Court of Justice and the African Union," Ghandour said.

He further explained that according to a peace deal between Sudan and South Sudan in 2005, where the border between the two countries was determined based on Sudan's North-South borders in Jan. 1956, Abyei is inside Sudan.

"Additionally, the referendum stipulated in the protocol of the peace deal to determine the affiliation of Abyei has not been conducted yet, and therefore Abyei is Sudanese," he added.

Sudan and South Sudan are disputing the oil-rich Abyei, an area inhabited mainly by Sudan's Arab Mesiria tribe and South Sudan's Dinka Ngok tribe.

The Abyei area, which has two thirds of Sudan's oil wells, has witnessed many tensions between the two tribes and the armies of the two countries, where dozens have been killed. Endit