Abyei status referendum, 2011
Encyclopedia
A referendum is due to be held in 2011 in which the residents of Abyei
can decide either to remain part of the Sudan
ese South Kordofan region or to become part of the Bahr el Ghazal
region of South Sudan
.
The referendum was originally planned to be held simultaneously to the 2011 Southern Sudanese independence referendum
on January 9-15, 2011, but was postponed indefinitely due to disagreements over the process. Due to the uncertainty violence has erupted in which more than 30 people were killed. As a response the UN has deployed extra troops On May 21 2011, Northern Sudan seized Abyei through military force raising questions as to if a vote will be held.
The impasse on the referendum is due to lack of agreement on who constitutes a "resident of Abyei". The question is whether to include Arab nomads (the Messiria tribe), who have historically stayed in the region every year for six months. If the Misseriya Arabs are prevented from voting, the region will likely go to South Sudan.
For further information see Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011.
Abyei
The Abyei Area is an area of in Sudan accorded "special administrative status" by the 2004 Protocol on the resolution of the Abyei conflict in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War. The capital of Abyei Area is Abyei Town...
can decide either to remain part of the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese South Kordofan region or to become part of the Bahr el Ghazal
Bahr el Ghazal
The Bahr el Ghazal is a region of western South Sudan. Its name comes from the river Bahr el Ghazal.- Geography :The region consists of the states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap. It borders Central African Republic to the west...
region of South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
.
The referendum was originally planned to be held simultaneously to the 2011 Southern Sudanese independence referendum
Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011
A referendum took place in Southern Sudan from 9 to 15 January 2011, on whether the region should remain a part of Sudan or become independent. The referendum was one of the consequences of the 2005 Naivasha Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People's Liberation...
on January 9-15, 2011, but was postponed indefinitely due to disagreements over the process. Due to the uncertainty violence has erupted in which more than 30 people were killed. As a response the UN has deployed extra troops On May 21 2011, Northern Sudan seized Abyei through military force raising questions as to if a vote will be held.
The impasse on the referendum is due to lack of agreement on who constitutes a "resident of Abyei". The question is whether to include Arab nomads (the Messiria tribe), who have historically stayed in the region every year for six months. If the Misseriya Arabs are prevented from voting, the region will likely go to South Sudan.
For further information see Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011.