54 killed Sudan-South Sudan Border Territor Dispute,

Violent clashes between Sudan and South Sudan’s contested region of Abyei result in 54 deaths, including two UN peacekeepers

Violent clashes between rival communities in the contested region of Abyei, claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, have resulted in the loss of 54 lives, including two UN peacekeepers, as reported by the United Nations on Monday. The skirmishes occurred over the weekend in Abyei, an oil-rich territory straddling the border of both nations.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has strongly condemned the attacks on civilians and peacekeepers. According to local authorities, 52 civilians have lost their lives, and an additional 64 are reported to be gravely wounded.

The violence escalated on Sunday when peacekeepers, transporting affected civilians from a UNISFA base to a hospital, came under fire. Tragically, a Pakistani peacekeeper lost their life, and four uniformed personnel, along with one local civilian, sustained injuries.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has denounced the violence, urging the governments of both Sudan and South Sudan to conduct investigations and bring those responsible to justice. Attacks on peacekeepers are considered potential war crimes.

A Ghanaian peacekeeper had also lost their life on Saturday, prompting UNISFA to call for a thorough investigation into the ongoing violence.

Abyei, situated between Sudan and South Sudan, has been a longstanding flashpoint since South Sudan gained independence in 2011. The recent clashes, described by local authorities as “barbaric coordinated attacks,” have been linked to a protracted conflict between the Ngok and Twic communities.

Expressing deep concern, the international “Troika” composed of Britain, Norway, and the United States, sponsors of South Sudan’s independence, called for an end to the escalating violence. The Troika emphasized the need for leaders with influence over the involved communities to support peace efforts, warning that failure to do so reflects a disregard for the welfare of their people.

These recent attacks follow clashes in November of the previous year, which claimed the lives of 32 people, including a UN peacekeeper. The UN envoy for the Horn of Africa, Hanna Tetteh, expressed worry about the proximity of Abyei to the fighting between Sudan’s rival forces, emphasizing the potential destabilization of the already fragile region with its volatile local dynamics.

Furthermore, Tetteh noted that the Sudan crisis had effectively halted talks between leaders from both countries regarding the long-disputed status of Abyei. The 12-year-old UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei, currently comprising around 4,000 military and police personnel, faces the challenging task of maintaining stability in this volatile region.

Source: AFP