Sudan minister quits over Abyei

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James Copnall says the latest clashes “clearly reveal the tensions” between the north and south

A southern minister in Sudan’s national government has resigned, saying “war crimes” had been committed in the disputed Abyei region.

Luka Biong Deng said he could no longer work with the party of President Omar al-Bashir in the unity government.

He is a senior official in the south’s ruling party, which is set to lead South Sudan to independence in July.

The two sides fought for decades before agreeing to share power and hold a referendum on southern independence.

Northern troops seized the territory at the weekend after southern forces had ambushed a convoy of its forces in the area, killing 22 people.

Some 20,000 people have fled the town, which is now deserted, aid workers say.

Mr Biong Deng is originally from Abyei.

“We had hoped that we could form two viable states in good relationship with each other, but those in Khartoum do not seem interested in peace,” he said in his resignation statement.

“But with war crimes being committed in Abyei at the hands of the [President Bashir’s] National Congress Party, I could not in good faith continue to take part in such a government.”