FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Mr Acuol Alor Ms. Ashai Arop Bagat, Abyei Community Dr.

Luka Biong, Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School 202.714.2519, ashaiarop25@yahoo.com 202.644.0235, lukabiong@kushworld.org ABYEI COMMUNITY REQUESTS REPEAT PERFORMANCE BY OBAMA AT UNGA

Letter Asks President Obama to Secure AUPSC Endorsement and Plan for Abyei Referendum

CAMBRIDGE, MA September 10, 2013 On Monday, an urgent appeal was sent from the Abyei Community to President Obama asking him to use his influence at the upcoming meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) at the margins of the meetings of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to urge the African Union Peace and Security Council to outline a specific timeline for preparation and conduct of the Abyei referendum and to include the measures that will be taken by the international community if the timeline is not adhered to strictly, such as requesting the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution to declare Abyei as UN Protectorate Area. (Full text of the letter below.) Originally, the Abyei Referendum was scheduled to take place simultaneously with the Southern Sudan referendum; however, it was postponed due to disagreements between the North and South regarding voter eligibility and the chair of the Abyei Referendum Commission. Abyei, a small region on the border between Sudan and South Sudan, was transferred to the North by the British colonial administration in 1905 for protection of Ngok Dinka against Arab slave raids. Over time, the primary residents of Abyei, the Ngok Dinka, advocated for the regions return to the South. The referendum allows eligible voters to decide whether Abyei will be located in Sudan or South Sudan. The letter notes that a key factor in the success of the South Sudan referendum was [President Obamas] personal engagement with international leaders at the 2010 UNGA to ensure a peaceful and timely referendum. In addition, the letter highlights the importance of the referendum as it will remove a point of dangerous contention between Sudan and South Sudan and it will allow the region to stabilize and develop and to serve as a bridge of peace and economic opportunity between the two countries. The Abyei Community is also reaching out to Members of Congress and to activists and asking them to support the referendum and the communitys request to President Obama, by contacting the President and urging him to take this important action for Abyei at the UNGA.

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The Abyei Referendum 2013 is organized by members of the Abyei Community who are living in Abyei, Sudan, South Sudan and the Diaspora.

FULL TEXT OF LETTER: September 9, 2013 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President, The Abyei Community is writing to express our thanks to the United States for its significant investment in Abyei and to request your personal support for the October 2013 Abyei Referendum. As you are aware, the Abyei Referendum was a fruitful product of US engagement during the peace talks of the CPA and it did not take place as scheduled to occur simultaneously with that of South Sudan on 9th January 2011. Instead, the region was once again attacked in May 2011 and destroyed by Sudan Armed Forces that resulted in displacement of about 150,000 people. Our community is still deeply grieving the loss of livelihoods and innocent lives, our homeland, and of course, the recent assassination of Paramount Chief, Kuol Deng Kuol, a great peacemaker. We are grateful for the African Union High-Level Implementation Panels September 21, 2012 Proposal on the final status of Abyei and its acceptance by the African Union Peace and Security Council as a fair African solution for the problem of Abyei. The Proposal upholds the right of the permanent residents of Abyei to a referendum to be held in October 2013 and it establishes measures to ensure full access of all nomadic tribes, including the Arab nomads, to pastures and water for their cattle in Abyei area and beyond in South Sudan. A key factor in the success of the South Sudan referendum was your personal engagement with international leaders at the 2010 UNGA to ensure a peaceful and timely referendum. We respectfully request your involvement again. The referendum is a critical step that will remove a point of dangerous contention between Sudan and South Sudan and it will allow the region to stabilize and develop and to serve as a bridge of peace and economic opportunity between the two countries. Specifically, we would ask you to encourage the AUPSC to outline a specific timeline for preparation and conduct of the referendum and to include the measures that will be taken by the international community if the timeline is not adhered to strictly, such as to request the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution to declare Abyei as UN Protectorate Area. Thank you for considering our request, and again, we truly appreciate your support. Sincerely,

Mr. Acuol Alor, Abyei Community Leader Dr. Luka B. Deng Kuol, Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School

Ms. Ashai Arop Bagat, Abyei Community, ashaiarop25@yahoo.com