Südsudan/Sudan (Abyei)

Sudan government troops have yet to comply with the first phase of a withdrawal schedule aimed at demilitarizing the disputed Abyei area that sits between Sudan and South Sudan. According to the timeline, signed by Sudanese and South Sudanese government officials two weeks ago, the northern Sudan Armed Forces, or SAF, should have withdrawn out of Abyei town by the end of last week. Southern and U.N. sources say that SAF remain in Abyei town.

The Sudanese government on Wednesday dismissed last week’s announcement by a senior United Nations official of a deal reached between Sudan and South Sudan on withdrawing troops from the contested region of Abyei.

Sudan and newly independent South Sudan have agreed to withdraw their troops from the disputed town of Abyei by the end of the month, the UN says. The deputy head of UN peacekeeping, Edmond Mulet, says the deal was brokered by the African Union at talks in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Sudan has reaffirmed rejection to the appointment of any employee of the outgoing UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

The top United Nations peacekeeping official today reported that more than 500 troops with the new UN mission in the disputed Abyei area of Sudan have been deployed and both of the contesting sides appear committed to avoiding combat and willing to withdraw in favour of the blue helmets. … “I am pleased to report that as of yesterday, 521 of the authorized 4,200 military personnel in UNISFA have been deployed,” Mr. Le Roy said adding that he expected to have an operating capacity of 1,200 troops by the end of July.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has appointed a commander for the new U.N. peacekeeping force in Sudan's contested Abyei region. The U.N. said Wednesday that Mr. Ban has named Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede Tesfay of Ethiopia as head of mission and commander of the force.

The Ethiopian government has begun deploying its troops to monitor the troubled North - South Sudan frontier of Abyei region, a military official said on Wednesday. … According to the UN resolution the Ethiopian force has the mission of demilitarising activities in and around Abyei and ensuring peace in the region for at least the next six months.

President Omer Al-Bashir of Sudan has reiterated claims to Abyei, warning that any attempt by the new state in South Sudan to impose a unilateral reality in the hotly-contested region could potentially lead to war with the North.