Sudan; International Court of Arbitration Intervenes

Sherri Siegele

Northern and Southern Sudan apprehensively wait for the International Court of Arbitration to assign specific geographical boundaries to Abyei; Sudan’s richest area of oil fields. Although a peace deal to end civil war between the North and South was signed four years ago the two sides were unable to decide on the division of Abyei. With time passing and tensions rising this past year saw two incidents of fighting that nearly lead to civil war. These incidents were instigated between Muslim and Christian soldiers and members of north and south joint army and police units. The latter caused residents of Abyei to lose confidence in the security of police action causing 50,000 people to abandon their homes and a scorched town. United Nations peace keepers are trying to minimize and stop local disturbances from escalating into large scale fighting or civil war until the International Court of Arbitration assigns boundaries to Abyei.