Four UNISFA civilian transport contracted trucks conveying seven UNISFA sea containers, including one carrying some personal effects of the Ghanian Battalion (GHANBATT) serving with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), were looted by some Abyei youths, the mission said.
In a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, UNISFA said the incident took place near Baton, 21 kilometres south of Abyei town.
“Due to the ongoing security situation in Sudan, UNISFA leadership arranged to conduct the rotation of its troops via ‘Entebbe – Wau – Abyei’ rather than ‘Entebbe – Kadugli – Abyei’. Consequently, the personal effects of GHANBATT-1 were reprocessed to be transported by road through Wau to Entebbe,” it said.
It added, “The mission followed the due process of contacting the South Sudan National Monitors for convoy road clearance for the four trucks transporting seven UNISFA containers. However, the convoy was stopped on 16 May 2023 by Abyei youths who inspected the items and demanded additional paperwork, despite being presented with all required documentation.”
According to the statement, the youths denied passage to the trucks and proceeded to divert the convoy to a different location where the personal effects of the GHANBAT contingent were offloaded and looted.
It pointed out that investigation into the incidence has been initiated by the mission, with ongoing efforts to possibly trace and retrieve the looted items.
UNISFA leadership strongly condemned the act of brigandage by the Abyei youths and called on them to use their energies to partner with the mission to ensure that Abyei is free of all forms of criminality.
“UNISFA reiterates its full commitment to its mandated task of ensuring that the Abyei Box is free of arms and reaffirms its capability to protect all law-abiding members of the community and appeals for support and cooperation,” it concluded.
Oil-rich Abyei has been contested since South Sudan gained independence in July 2011. Sudan and South Sudan are yet to agree on the mapping of the border.
UNISFA was deployed in June 2011 to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence and protect the area from incursions by armed groups.