New Sudan Community in Norway (NSCN) deplore and condemns the illegal and unconstitutional invasion of Abyei town, which lies on the border between North and South Sudan, on 22.05.2011 by the North Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). We also condemn President Omer Bashir unilateral decree, dissolving the Abyei Administration. This move threatens to return the North and South Sudan to war, just seven weeks before South Sudan is expected to celebrate its independence.

The aggression and occupation is a highly coordinated National Congress’s Party (NCP) strategy to change dynamic of events prior to South Sudan independence, the aim being for them to negotiate from a position of strength on the remaining post referendum issues. In addition, NCP has the malicious design to partition and claiming parts of Abyei in the long run, by populating the region with Arabs nomad of the Missierya tribes. Abyei is home and ancestral land of the Dinka Ngok who is part of Southern Sudan’s largest tribe the Dinka. In the same region, there are the Misseriya who are Northern Sudanese nomads that travel seasonally to Abyei and Southern Sudan in search of pasture for their cattle.

The invasion and occupation has been strongly condemned the whole world round but that is not enough; NCP needs to be severely punished and impose upon serious consequences for their uncivilized actions.

As South Sudanese in the Diaspora, we staunchly support and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Abyei as they undergo untold suffering as a result of the obdurate action of the North Sudan regime.

We applaud and commend the Leadership and Government of South Sudan for showing restrain and not allow it to be provoked to go to war and we support South Sudan rightful claim to Abyei as part and parcel of South Sudan as per Permanent Court of Arbitration award.

In the spirit of Justice and peace and in the concern of our compatriots in Abyei we urge Norway, being a member of Troika and guarantor of the CPA, to advocate for promoting peace and stability in the Sudan at the same time we call for justice thus we call upon Norway and the international community to put pressure on the recalcitrant Khartoum regime;

 that Khartoum’s Arm Forces immediately cease all offensive operations in Abyei and withdraw its forces from Abyei, and the UNMIS take over the security of the town to protect civilians, stop looting and destruction of properties

 that the illegal decree by President Omer Bashir, dissolving the Abyei Administration be reconsidered null and void

 that the Abyei Protocol and The Hague International Permanent Court of Arbitration award on Abyei be implemented to the letter and spirit

 that Abyei’s Referendum be conducted immediately without delay; with only the eligible Ngok Dinka voting, excluding the illegible Misseriya Arab nomads

 We Call upon Norway and the international community to impose serious political and economic sanction on the Khartoum regime for its use of overwhelming military force in Abyei.