The IGAD Executive Secretary Amb.(Eng.) Mahboub Muaalim condemned the attack by Misserya elements on a convoy of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and a delegation of Ngok Dinka on 4 May 2013, which resulted in the death of Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief Koul Deng Koul, UNISFA peace keepers and left others wounded. He expressed that this heinous act, threatens the stability of the area and is against the progress recently achieved by the Sudan and South Sudan in addressing their common challenges.
The Executive Secretary extended his deepest condolences to the Ngok Dinka Community, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the families of those killed and injured.
The Executive Secretary appreciated the prompt actions by President Salva Kiir and President Omar Al-Bashir to calm the situation. The Executive Secretary urges the Government of the Sudan and South Sudan and the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya Communities to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any escalation of this unfortunate incident. He also urged for an urgent, transparent and fair investigation of the act of the violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Executive Secretary reiterated IGAD’s continued support for the Implementation of all the agreements signed between the two countries and the final settlement of the outstanding issues including Abyei.
