The high level talks that took place yesterday between the governments of Juba and Khartoum to thrash out troubles in the Abyei region were unsuccessful.
GoSS vice president Riek Machar Teny failed to persuade Khartoum to withdraw its troops from the Abyei area.Dr. Machar told journalists upon his arrival at Juba International Airport this morning that he requested Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) to pull its troops out of Abyei and its civilian administration reinstated but Vice President Ali Osman Taha refused.
He said the government of Khartoum decided that SAF forces remain in Abyei until a political solution was reached.
Dr. Riek said a military solution was not suitable to solve the Abyei crisis.
He explained that Abyei is government by the CPA protocol, the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling and by the administration appointed by SPLM and NCP consent.
Dr. Machar concluded that the two parties agreed to form a committee headed by Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa, to find a permanent solution to the Abyei dispute.