Nomads of Savannah, the Messeirya Tribe of Sudan and the Abyei Referendum Conflict (in Arabic)

The Sudanese nation turmoil continues and does not end with the secession of its Southern part after January's 2011 referendum. Conflicts on the border region of Abei flares with its complicated demographic structures. The region is inhabited by a majority population of Nomadic tribes of Dinka, African Nilotics and Messeirya Baggara of Arab origins. They shared land, water resources and the common property of living off livestock herding. Previous conflicts occurred under the flag of the Sudanese nation. The secession generated the need for both sides to belong either to the Northern or Southern Sudan which logically both selected his preference. The conflict expanded with the discovery of oil in the region. Even with the non-existent transparency, predictions of large amounts of reserves were evident. That gave additional dimensions of greed and struggle for resources. The conflict flared more when the International Court divided the region's land between them which allocated the Messeirya nomads of Bahr al Arab River and thus deprived the Messeirya of accessibility to the livestock. Moreover, the secession deprived them of accessibility to pastures in the South which supported their herds and was available for them for the past four hundred years. The intricacy of the situation reminds us of Cowboys Open Range legacy. Visible solutions do not exist for even if all Abyei was allocated to them they would still have to look for pasture within the borders of the newly born Southern Sudan state. A remote solution is suggested that tribes of the region should be exempted by both Northern and Southern States and granted free access. The conflict resolution also can include dual nationality. The Abyei region's oil can be divided between the south and the north Sudan. Moreover, it is suggested that the region should be granted a state of autonomy. Unless those suggestions are granted, open war between the two states of the North and South Sudan is eminently expected which shall be preceded by tribal blood sheds