South Sudan/Sudan (Abyei)

Representatives from various civil society and faith-based organisations from the contested Abyei region took to the street on Tuesday to protest the failure of Sudan and South Sudan to agree on a date for a proposed referendum, warning that they would decide their own destiny if the two sides continued to stall.

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Haile Menkerios, urged the two countries to reach an agreement ending their dispute over Abyei region where a referendum has to be held to determine the fate of the region. … The presidents Omer Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir reiterated on Tuesday 3 September their commitment to implement the cooperation agreements and activated all the joint committees working on its implementation.

Following the failure of presidents Omer Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir to seal a deal during his one day to Khartoum some dignitaries from the disputed area called for a decision by the African Union to support the organisation of a referendum that eventually to be backed by the UN Security Council.

Sudanese government reiterated its rejection to hold a referendum on the future of Abyei area, stressing that priority should be given to establish local institutions and provide service to the civilians there.

Al-Khair Al-Fahim, co-chair of Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), has slammed the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) for turning a blind eye to the presence of Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) in the region.

South Sudan president Salva Mayardit said it is time for the international community "to take action" in order to resolve conflict over the disputed region of Abyei, accusing Sudan of showing lack of political will to forge an understanding.

The UN chief asked the Security Council to increase the UNISFA by 1126 personnel saying it will strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of UN Peacekeeping.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for calm in Abyei, an area contested by Sudan and South Sudan, following the killing of a top tribal chief and a UN peacekeeper from the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), as tensions in the area reportedly remain high today.

The United Nations peacekeeping force in the oil-rich Abyei area, which is contested by South Sudan and Sudan, has completed its first verification mission to make sure that troops from both Governments pull out of the demilitarized border zone.

In a letter issued ahead of next week’s South Sudan ruling party (SPLA) political bureau meeting, members of the Abyei community expressed deep concerns over the manner in which UNISFA was handling security in the disputed region.