A UN misreport is at the origin of big tension with Sudan over the administration of Abyei.
Last week, the Government of Khartoum announced it was dispatching the Transitional Abyei Area Executive Committee after the UN reported that South Sudan reinstated the Abyei Area Administration.Abyei Joint Oversight Committee co-chair Luka Biong told the press Tuesday in Juba that what he ordered was the relocation of the General Secretariat with all civil servants of the Abyei Area Administration from Agok to Abyei town to assist the return of residents.
He explained that UNISFA, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, did not understand the context of the order and misreported it to the UN Security Council.
Dr Biong praised the work of the Ethiopian troops of UNISPA providing security and helping displaced people to resettle in Abyei.
He said he had absolute confidence on the Ethiopian forces.
Dr Biong added that the UN mandate for Abyei is at risk because Khartoum refused to sign the Status of Forces Agreement.
He said he expected the issue of Abyei to be settled by September 22 and the referendum on self-determination to be held by November 30.
Dr Biong accused Khartoum of illegally keeping between 100 and 150 police and a number of troops stationed at the oil fields in Abyei and delaying the settlement of the issue.