SUDAN/ ABYEI SECURITY

As voting begins in Southern Sudan, tensions are reported in the outskirts of the oil-rich Abyei region, including attacks in the town of Makeer. UNMIS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:54
• Production Date: 9 January 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN SUDAN - UNMIS
• Subject Topical: REFERENDUM
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U110109f

Description

STORY: SUDAN/ ABYEI SECURITY
TRT: 1.54
SOURCE: UNMIS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ARABIC/ ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 9 JANUARY 2010, ABYEI, SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, wind sock
2. Wide shot, chopper landing and dust blowing off
3. Med shot, wind sock
4. Tracking shot, South Kordofan Governor Ahmed Haroun descending from chopper and greeting waiting members of Abyei’s security Committee
5. Med shot, members of the Misseriya chiefs walking past
6. Wide shot, exterior of Abyei Chief Administration Office
7. Various shots, members of Security committee of Abyei and South Kordofan State at the table
8. Wide shot, guards waiting outside office of Chief Administration
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Chief of Abyei Administration, Deng Arop Kuol
“We have agreed also that the two parties, and especially the leaders from Ngok and the Misseriya should begin to cease hostile, you know, kind of statements being given to the media.”
10. Med shot, Chief of Abyei Administration Deng Arop Kuol and Governor of South Kordofan Ahmed Haroun
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmed Haroun, Governor of South Kordofan:
“We are fully willing to save the lives of our people and to save the security and peace in this sensitive stage of our national history. We will be I intensive contacts to establish mechanisms to help to overcome any crisis that may arise.”
12. Wide shot, vehicles departing

Storyline

As voting began in Southern Sudan today (9 January), tensions have been reported in the outskirts of Abyei, including attacks in the town of Makeer.

The oil-rich Abyei region was meant to hold a concurrent referendum on whether to join the North or South, but an agreement on the modalities for such a vote has not been reached.

A hurriedly called meeting between Abyei and South Kordofan security committees, which included traditional leaders, discussed the current situation and the recent clashes.

After the meeting, Chief of Abyei Administration, Deng Arop Kuol, spoke to the press.

SOUNDBITE (English) Chief of Abyei Administration, Deng Arop Kuol:
“We have agreed also that the two parties, and especially the leaders from Ngok and the Misseriya should begin to cease hostile, you know, kind of statements being given to the media.”

The Governor of South Kordofan, Ahmed Haroun, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, also spoke to reporters.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmed Haroun, Governor of South Kordofan:
“We are fully willing to save the lives of our people and to save the security and peace in this sensitive stage of our national history. We will be in intensive contacts to establish mechanisms to help to overcome any crisis that may arise.”

The number of casualties resulting from the renewed violence remains unknown.

In a recent statement UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said that the continuing stalemate over Abyei and the Abyei referendum is a cause for alarm.