South Sudan/Sudan (Abyei)

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.

South Sudan on Tuesday said it would respect decisions taken by natives of the oil-producing region of Abyei, if the Sudanese government continues derailing efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the area, as proposed by the African Union.

South Sudan does not have plans to allow the United Nations to administer the fertile oil-producing border region of Abyei, which is also claimed by the government of neighbouring Sudan, a senior official said Tuesday.

The Sudanese government on Sunday expressed confidence that its dispute with South Sudan over the border region of Abyei will not make it to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).