Barnes

The area of Abyei is located in the center of Sudan between the north and south, two regions of Sudan in conflict.  In July of 2009 the Hague Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled on the boundaries of Abyei.  Now the people of Abyei will vote on whether to be part of the autonomous South Sudan government or the Northern government.  This area has a rich and complicated political history as well as oil resources that further complicate the political process.

In October of 2009 Sudanese refugees living in the northeast of the United States gathered in Burlington, VT to celebrate the Hague ruling.  The people gathered represent various ethnic and political groups speaking English, Arabic and Dinka.

for more information: New Sudan Vision, http://www.newsudanvision.org,  The Hague Permanent Court of Arbitration website http://www.pca-cpa.org  and the South Sudan government website  http://www.gossmission.org/goss