Abyei Residents Optimistic Of Agreements

11 February 2011 - (Juba) – The chairman of Abyei referendum forum says the people of Abyei hope that the recent agreements between the NCP and SPLM will resolve the issues surrounding Abyei referendum.

Chol Deng Alak spoke to SRS in Juba on Friday.

[Chol Deng]: “We are happy, and we are celebrating that the south is now free. We are not only part of it; we fought for it (Freedom). And we believe and trust the SPLM since it has already been entrusted by the people of Abyei long ago. That mandate is still there. We hope things will be okay, because there have been so many agreements signed for the last one month between the Government of Southern Sudan and the government in the north, and of Southern Kordofan. We hope that it will help in stabilizing the area. But there is no problem, we will wait.”

Last month, the presidency agreed to maintain peace in Abyei by resolving the stand off within the months of February and March.