PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCLXXIV)
Page 1
COMMUNIQUÉ
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 374th meeting held in
Addis Ababa, on 7 May 2013, adopted the following decision on the latest developments in the
situation in Abyei:
Council,
1.
Takes note of the briefing made by the Chief of Staff of the African Union High Level
Implementation Panel (AUHIP), Mr. Abdul‐Kader Mohammed, on the incident and criminal act
that took place in Baloom, Abyei, on 4 May 2013, which led to the killing of the Paramount
Chief of the NgokDinka community, Chief Kuol Deng Majok, as well as a peacekeeper from the
United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), and seriously injured three other
peacekeepers. Council also takes note of the statements made by the Permanent
Representatives of the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan, as well as by the
Representatives of France, the United Kingdom and the United States;
2.
Expresses its condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased, to the NgokDinka
community, and to the Government of Ethiopia. Council also expresses its wishes for a speedy
recovery to the injured peacekeepers;
3.
Condemns in the strongest termsthe ambush and attackagainstUNISFA, that resulted
in the heinous killing of the NgokDinka Paramount Chief and an Ethiopian UN peacekeeper, as
well as the injuries of other soldiers, which occurred immediately after the first extraordinary
meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), convened by the UNISFA Head of
Mission and Force Commander to discuss the prevailing security situation in Abyei and to
explore the best possible way to address the security concerns in the area;
4.
Expressesgrave concern that this attack has the potential to compromise the
significant progress that has been made by Sudan and South Sudan in the last two months to
promote mutually cooperative relations, and urges the leadership and the people of the two
countries to demonstrate utmost restraint and todo all in their power to ensure that this
incident does not escalate. Council further urgesthe two Governments to exercise control over
the respective communities in the Abyei area;
5.
Urges the Government of Sudan to ensure that all those responsible for this heinous
crime are brought to justice immediately. In this respect, Council stressesthe need for
consultations between the UN, the AU, the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan, with a
view to urgently establishing a credible, transparent and independent inquiry into the
circumstances surrounding the incident and criminal act of 4th of May 2013, which took place
in Baloom, Abyei, and resulted in the killing of the Paramount Chief Kuol Deng Majok and
UNISFA personnel. Council alsostressesthe need for the urgent definition of the Terms of
Reference of the proposed inquiry;