Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has condemned the killing of the Paramount Chief of the Ngok Dinka, Kual Deng Majok, in Sudan’s disputed Abyei region.
A United Nations peacekeeper was also killed and two other peacekeepers were seriously wounded in the incident. The incident reportedly occurred in crossfire between UNISFA troops and Misseriya militia in the Abyei area.
Zuma said the incident threatened the stability of Abyei, as well as the progress recently achieved by Sudan and South Sudan in addressing their common security and socio-economic challenges.
“I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the Ngok Dinka community and the Government of Ethiopia, the home country of the UN peacekeepers killed in the incident, as well as to the families of those killed and injured,” Zuma said.
He urged the Sudanese and South Sudanese governments to ensure that those responsible for the attack were brought to justice.
“I also call on the leadership of Sudan and South Sudan to exercise restraint and to ensure that the current situation does not spiral out of control.”
President Zuma further urged the parties to the conflict in Abyei to work with the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) to conduct a transparent and effective investigation into the incident.
He also urged the two countries to unconditionally facilitate movement of the UN personnel seeking access to Abyei either for immediate assessment, or to conduct and respond to the daily needs of the humanitarian-related activities in the region.
He reiterated both Sudan and South Sudan’s commitment to all agreements signed and the determination to implement them in an effort to normalise and enhance bilateral relations, which he said would likely assist both sides in establishing and providing all the temporary arrangements for the Abyei Administration. – SAnews.gov.za
