Abyei Repeated History of Exclusion & Political Dereliction

Abyei Area, on the border between Sudan and South Sudan, is inhabited by Dinka Ngok tribe, who have traditionally allowed the Misseriya Arabs from the north to graze their cattle there during the dry season. Unresolved territorial disputes dating back to colonial times have resulted in border clashes, political arguments and referendums. Sudan’s rich natural resources have been fought over at the negotiating table as well as on the ground. Author Jok Alor Bulabek has researched widely to give us his account of the reasons behind the undecided status of this rich and strategically-located area of his beloved country. There are stories of his childhood, losing his father, gaining an education and eventually becoming involved in political activities around the time of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.As a member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, Jok Alor Bulabek gained the experience which in later years has seen him regarded as an authority on the status of Abyei Area. Using input from interviews conducted with many colleagues, he has created an absorbing factual account of this highly-regarded region and its many political issues. If all were to agree, Abyei Area could be a rich and highly-productive food bowl for northeastern Africa.