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Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official

June 1, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia on Wednesday showed willingness to deploy peace-keeping forces to the disputed border region of Abyei to act as buffer between the armies of North and South Sudan.

Military observers from Namibia serving with the international peacekeeping operation is seen during a patrol in the region of Abyei (UNMIS)
Military observers from Namibia serving with the international peacekeeping operation is seen during a patrol in the region of Abyei (UNMIS)
Ethiopia’s sign of interest comes after both north and south appeared to agree to set up a demilitarized zone along their border to be jointly patrolled. But after the initiative was announced by the African Union, a spokesperson from Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party played the down its significance saying it was one of many proposals being considered.

Addis Ababa said it will consider dispatching peace keepers to the region if asked by both parties.

North Sudan’s army occupied oil-producing Abyei on May 21 in contravention of a 2005 peace deal between north and South Sudan. Although South Sudan’s president has stated it will not return to war over the occupation of Abyei, the possibility of a return to north-south conflict is of concern to Sudan’s neighbouring countries.

Ethiopia’s foreign affairs spokesperson Ambassador Dina Mufti, told Sudan Tribune that “both north and south Sudanese are seeking deployment of an external and neutral force [to a border buffer zone] accepted by both sides.”

“If the request comes from North and south Sudan, Ethiopia will consider of offering peace keepers to Abyei region. This is because it is Ethiopia’s long-term interest of seeing lasting peace and stability in both north and south Sudan and at the entire region as a whole,” the Ethiopian spokesman said.

Mufti said that although Ethiopia had not received any official request from either North or South Sudan but considering the behind the scenes discussions they expected to be asked to send troops to the region.

“This is expected however to my knowledge the Ethiopian government has not yet received such a request,” he said.

The Ethiopian official denied rumors that the horn of Africa country is already deploying thousands of its soldiers to Abyei.

“I can’t confirm that. That is not the case now. Ethiopia’s position at this point is it will look into a possible request of peace force if only comes from the two Sudanese sides’’ he stressed.

Ethiopia has cordial relations with both North and South Sudan and is seen as a neutral player from both sides.

The northern army have said they will not leave the region until a referendum is held to decide whether Abyei will join north or south Sudan. As part of a 2005 peace South Sudan voted to separate from the north in January, however a simultaneous plebiscite in Abyei did not go ahead. The two parties to the peace deal could not agree on who was allowed to vote.

On Wednesday South Sudan’s army rejected a northern proposal that the administration of Abyei will be rotated until a referendum can be held.

(ST)

14 Comments

  • liberator3
    liberator3

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    Ethiopia

    thanks for the help. but i do not think is a good idea for our government to be asking for foreign troops to occupied our region. it confirms the suspicions of the North and some part of the world that we can not government ourselves and are not capable of defending our sovereignty. GOSS should reject it if it does not want to be perceived as weak independent nations.

    Reply
  • dengtaath
    dengtaath

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    Liberator3,
    Which armies are occuping our region? Ethiopian Armies? Can you review your understanding about Abyei conflict? Do you prefere Ethiopian(UN force)/Khartoum invaders? Ethiopian armies if are deployed to Abyei will protect Abyei people until the agreed upon referendum takes place, you cannot describe them as foriegn invaders, Khartoum need a fierce armies like Ethiopians, they will not stay indoor if such occasions like the recent attack by SAF happen.Please understand this way, they will never take any thing from Abyei like blood Arab that we cannot trust forever.

    Reply
  • liberator3
    liberator3

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    dengtaath

    please, as much as i want Ethiopia to help with peackeepers in order to protect people in the region. it also worth noting the negative adverse of this proposals, sooner or later you will see a proposal from Sudan Government that it will bring an Arab country to be deployed along side with the Ethiopian troops and that is not streching the facts but it’s the reality of it.

    Ethiopia has been and will be our oldest friend before independent of Sudan. but Ethiopia is countering Eritrea and it will have a negative adverse reactions fromn Eritrea. and we do not want our country to be DRC where six nations in the late ’90s fought a terrible war inside that country and we know what Democratic republic of the Congo (DRC/formerly know as Zaire) looks like today.

    Reply
  • dengtaath
    dengtaath

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    Liberator3,
    Thanks,I understood your point, but we don’t have choice, if we have choice we won’t allow any foriegn troops in our region including the UN peace keeping force.
    A gain, thanks
    dengtaath

    Reply
  • dakin
    dakin

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    Dengtaath,
    War has been beckoning in Abyei long before the referendum. What do you expect from warnings issued by Khartoum against inclusion of Abyei in south sudan’s constitution?
    July 9 or CPA is a very lame excuse indeed. What has happened to all those tanks, anti aircrafts?
    Obviously coward dinka leadership had no defensive mechanism against Abyei town and its people- the ngok dinka.

    Reply
  • liberator3
    liberator3

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    correction:

    Ethiopia has been and will be one our oldest friend in the future. It has been South Sudan oldest friend in the whole region even before the independent of Sudan.

    Reply
  • liberator3
    liberator3

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    dengtaath

    I know we may only limited choices as of right now,
    however, we have many qualified individuals in diaspora

    who can managed our foreign policies, since most of if not all have both experienced and expertise on the tricks of all these developed nations when it comes to dealing with them.

    but, most of the diaspora citizens of the South are being denied all such positions unless they are friend of or know Deng Alor and a likes.

    Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar should change these types of practices when it come to filling positions of that importance such as in the area foreign policies and National security. most of them should be filled by qualified individuals of our Diaspora population.

    Reply
  • dengtaath
    dengtaath

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    Dakin,
    The SPLA and the GOSS said, no war now, and I hope you aware very well why the SPLA and GOSS are talking this language? Now, what do we want? What we want is, we want to rely on United Nation Security Council(UNSC), Ethiopian forces will come to Abyei in the name of African Union and UN, their mandate will only be to protect the area from NCP’s SAF and SPLA also will be kept away from the area. My dear, let us not favor war upon our armies so much, SPLA is a brav army but limited capacity to engage in war at this period of time,also we must protect the long awaited independent, we must always know that we can only declare war when we have no option all.

    Reply
  • seyoum777
    seyoum777

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    I agree that Ethiopia is a neutral in this North and South affair. Such neutrality emanates from the foreign policy of the country. The leadership in Ethiopia clearly understands the importance of cooperation amongst African nations to tackle the age old problems of the continent. Ethiopia is driven by a policy that is bent on creating a strategic alliance on the basis of mutual benefit and respect.

    Therefore, it is a wise to trust Ethiopia by both sides.

    Reply
  • Abyei Soil
    Abyei Soil

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    Those who are hurry hoping to get what make them happy at their life time today will miss future value which is more profitable than today’s value. What I means Southerners is think twice before you begin to follow your Imaginations. If you are from 13yrs-53yrs then at this time our life should be concentrated on improving and preparing better place for our children because we will be still stand in them. Why Im saying this is because I saw some of us in reality have self interest based on today’s consumption but that should not be the case as per our struggle for freedom. Please Southerners do all your things and after all consider Abyei as part of you.
    Thank.

    Reply
  • AdierCien
    AdierCien

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    In The Name Of The Trinity God Amen

    I am not a direct Dinka but I lived with them several years from Raga and later in Chukudum during the time we join Red Soldier but you know, all these days there was no peace only violence situation. Dinka where famous when it come fights they don’t turn you their back. They face you till surrendered them your single salty tear. They don’t give up and they don’t wag war anyhow. They are peace makers when it come to friendship unfortunately Arab disappointed them hence making them hate arab for bad. Miss or Mr dakin I don’t know where did you find your coward Dinka. Please show me I want to see that Coward Dinka.
    Thank.

    God Bless South Sudan

    Reply
  • dakin
    dakin

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    Dengtaath,
    Find brother let us wait and see if ROSS will successful negotiate with Khartoum over Abyei in its current position.

    Reply
  • dengtaath
    dengtaath

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    Abyei Soil,
    There is no way that the people of South Sudan can forget their brothers and sisters in Abyei to Arab, we would better remove them from and give them land some where inside the South,because 9 Ngok Dinka are our people in blood not just because are Sudanese, we wouldn’t leave them to Arab my dear, Abyei will be a grave yard soon after 9 July if Jalaba does not bear this in mind.

    Reply
  • Abyei Soil
    Abyei Soil

    Ethiopia will “consider” deploying peace force to Sudan’s Abyei – official
    @ Dengtaath

    Thank you, I Understand

    Reply
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