South Sudan/Sudan (Abyei)

South Sudan’s appointed Chief Administrator for Abyei, Kuol Deim Kuol has urged the international community and United Nations to support calls for a referendum to resolve the status of the disputed region.

The South Sudanese government says it would deploy its forces in the disputed oil-producing region of Abyei, amid concerns over what the unilateral decision would attract from Sudan. The decision, an official said, aims at curbing rising insecurity in the region.

[…] Resolution 2630, acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and recognizing that the situation in Abyei constitutes a threat to international peace and security, extended the mission’s mandate until 15 November. … Security Council Resolution 2630 also decided that UNISFA should maintain the authorized troop ceiling at 3,250 and authorized police ceiling at 640.

At least 27 people were killed Sunday evening in fresh attacks in Abyei, the disputed administrative area bordering Sudan and South Sudan, area spokesperson Deng Ajak said.

The United Nations has agreed to replace thousands of Ethiopian forces within the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) with other UN forces, Sudan announced Wednesday.

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 December 2021.

The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations told the Security Council on Wednesday that he was encouraged by a thaw in relations between South Sudan and Sudan, now that both have established national committees on the question of Abyei, the disputed oil-rich border territory claimed by both countries.  

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has expressed grave concern over the forced relocations of UN troops as well as closure of Kiir Adem and Abar team site in Aweil North and Aweil East counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state. This comes after petitioners, on 11 August 2021, demanded the withdrawal of UNISFA troops gathered outside Sector 1 HQ in Gok Machar and forcibly entered the camp. This resulted in the destruction and looting of UN assets.

[…] The development comes at a time when relations between Sudan and Ethiopia are souring over an ongoing border dispute, as well as a fallout from the Horn country's controversial mega dam project.