Sudanese Foreign Minister Emphasizes Dialogue for Abyei Area Resolution

Khartoum:The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Mohi-Eddin Salem, has highlighted the importance of addressing issues concerning the Abyei Area through dialogue and understanding between Sudan and South Sudan. This approach reflects the area's unique historical and social significance, as well as its role in fostering interaction and coexistence among local communities.According to Sudan News Agency, the minister's statement coincided with the appointment of Major General (Ret.) Al-Khair Abdullah Idris Abu Mardat as the new Chairperson of the Joint Oversight Committee for the Abyei Area on the Sudan Side. He succeeds Lieutenant General (Police) Dr. Hamid Mannan Mohamed Mirghani, following a decree by the Transitional Sovereignty Council President.The minister emphasized that solutions for Abyei should be sought through peaceful and fraternal means, aligned with agreements between Sudan and South Sudan, including the Abyei Protocol of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreemen t and the 2011 Agreement on Temporary Administrative and Security Arrangements for Abyei.Ambassador Salem reiterated that Abyei serves as a bridge between the two nations, with a history of deep social ties and shared interests. He stressed that dialogue and consensus remain the best path for a lasting settlement that protects rights and maintains historical relations.The minister also expressed his support for Major General Abu Mardat, assuring that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is committed to aiding the committee to foster dialogue and cooperation in the Abyei Area.