By Yiep Joseph
President Salva Kiir and United Nations Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, held discussions on election preparations and ongoing Abyei dispute.
The meeting occurred as South Sudan continues to implement its extended peace agreement.
According to a statement released by the Presidential Press Unit, President Kiir received a message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, reiterating the UN’s commitment to supporting South Sudan’s stability and development.
Discussions between President Kiir and the UN delegation also centred on the progress of election preparations and the unresolved issues surrounding the contested Abyei region between South Sudan and Sudan.
“The discussions centered on South Sudan’s preparations for its upcoming elections and the implementation of security arrangements under the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement,” the statement partly read.
“The issue of Abyei was also addressed, with both parties emphasizing the need to ensure security in the region,” it read.
Lacroix emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the UN to achieve progress in the areas of election.
“The issue of Abyei was also addressed, with both parties emphasizing the need to ensure security in the region,” it read.
Last month, governance cluster endorsed the disputed 2013 Abyei referendum, in which residents of the contested region overwhelmingly voted to join South Sudan.
Abyei has remained a flashpoint between Sudan and South Sudan since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005.
The CPA granted Abyei residents, including the Arab Misseriya tribe, the right to decide whether to join South Sudan if the country voted for independence in 2011 or remain part of Sudan. However, the planned referendum under African Union supervision never took place.
In October 2013, the Ngok Dinka community unilaterally held a referendum, with 99.9% voting to join South Sudan. The results were not recognized by either Sudan or South Sudan.
On December 27, 2024, the Abyei Area Legislative Council (AALC) formally endorsed the 2013 referendum. The decision followed a recommendation from the South Sudan Governors’ Forum, which urged the council to take a stand on the matter.
The national governance cluster, chaired by First Vice President Riek Machar, endorsed the 2013 referendum following its presentation by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Ruben Madol Arol.
In a statement after the meeting, the governance cluster called on the government to engage regional and international actors to resolve Abyei’s final status.
It urged the African Union, the United Nations, and other relevant bodies to recognize the referendum results as a foundation for determining Abyei’s future.