Latest Press reports suggest that armies from north and south Sudan are hell-bent on clashing over the disputed north-south Sudan border town of Abyei (cos Abyei has...OIL..billions of barrels of the black gold).

Any conflict in this area may or may not affect any travellers crossing northern Sudan and Ethiopia, but at least travellers should be aware that the current peace between these two sides is on the brink, so travellers should make contingency plans accordingly.

Africa, great init.

Hi Disco, your thread REALLY had me confused. Here is some info:

JUBA, 16 May 2008 (IRIN) - Thousands of people have fled Abyei town after two days of clashes between Sudanese government troops and the southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).

"There was fighting in the evening yesterday," SPLA spokesman Maj Gen Peter Parnyang told IRIN on 15 May. "Fighting is still continuing up to today."

A meeting between leaders of the mainly Arab Misseriya and largely African Dinka communities – the main residents of the disputed oil-rich region – would resolve the crisis, Parnyang said.

Other sources said a ceasefire had been agreed, but sporadic shooting continued. Abyei remained tense as a result.

Aid workers in Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, said Abyei town was largely deserted after an estimated 25,000 people fled. More people were leaving.

The clashes started on 14 May, according to Edward Lino, the SPLM-appointed governor of the region that lies between North and South Sudan. Three people, he told the UN Radio Miraya, were killed.

UN spokeswoman Michele Montas told reporters in New York that the UN Mission in Sudan had decided to pull out most of its civilian international and national staff because of the safety and security conditions in Abyei town.

Stumbling block

The oil-rich Abyei region has emerged as one of the stumbling blocks to the implementation of the CPA, according to analysts. Despite both sides signing the Abyei protocol, disagreements over its status have left the region with an administrative and political vacuum.

SPLM leaders claim the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has ignored its proposals over Abyei because of oil revenues - estimated at US$529 million in 2007. The government in Khartoum denies the claims.

The Northern government has taken issue with the appointment of an administration for the disputed region by the SPLM, arguing that under the provisions of the CPA, it should have first approved the appointment.



In my opinion: This news should not impact the average Capetown-to-Cairo crew. BTW, Africa is beyond "great." Hook.

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