Warning over Sudan impasse

THE lack of progress in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan is a grave threat to international security, the United Nations Security Council has warned.

The Security Council issued the warning in a resolution that unanimously extended until mid-November the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, its peacekeeping mission there.

Almost the entire contingent of the force’s more than 4 800 troops comes from Ethiopia.

“The current situation in Abyei and along the border between the Sudan and South Sudan continues to constitute a serious threat to international peace and security,” UN resolution said.

Peace is fragile in Abyei, an area of about 10 500km² contested since Sudan split into two countries in 2011.

There have been tensions between the Arab Misseriya and Ngok Dinka people of the region.

Sudan and South Sudan agreed years ago to take steps to set up an administrative structure for Abyei, but the Security Council expressed disappointment that few steps had been taken on that.

It equally lamented a lack of progress to achieve a political resolution to the status of Abyei.

Council members urged “the two governments to take all necessary steps to ensure that Abyei is effectively demilitarised, including through disarmament programmes as necessary”.

In November 2015, shelling in Abyei killed a four-year-old girl and a UN peacekeeper. – AFP