Amid the good news of a smooth and peaceful voter registration process in Sudan ahead of the January 9 referendum in the south, an issue of major concern went almost unnoticed.
No single person in the flashpoint region of Abyei has registered yet for the other referendum on the future of that region.
Abyei remained in limbo. Negotiations between north and south leaderships about solutions are leading nowhere so far.
The Southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement has launched a massive return campaign for Abyei citizens exiled in Khartoum.
But on the ground the status quo remains as it was since the summer of 2008 when the two armies clashed and the main capital town of Abiey went on fire.
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