After a warning during a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday that the recent outbreak of violence in Sudan could jeopardize its bilateral relations with South Sudan, speakers urged both countries to continue their positive engagement in working to resolve the border security and development issues and reach an agreement on the final status of Abyei.
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, briefing the Council, said UNISFA is monitoring the potential impact of the fighting in the country (Sudan), cautioning that “the outbreak of violence in Sudan may deeply impact the chance for political progress on Abyei and border issues”.
“The outbreak of fighting in Sudan also risks further complicating the already challenging humanitarian situation in Abyei,” she said.
On UNISFA’s efforts to reduce tensions between the Ngok Dinka and Twic Dinka communities, as well as between the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities, she said that Mission continues to confiscate weapons and ammunition.
According to Akyaa, UNISFA’s reconfiguration into a United Nations multinational peacekeeping force is in its final stages and 3,078 military personnel have deployed.
“However, no progress has been made regarding re-operationalization of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism Sector 1 headquarters in Gok Machar, South Sudan, and its two team sites, she said, urging Juba to work to enable the re-establishment of these locations as soon as possible,” she stressed. “It is now more critical than ever to provide rule-of-law support to the people of Abyei.
Akyaa said UN country teams in Sudan and South Sudan, along with UNISFA, finalized the administrative arrangements for the Abyei Joint Programme and began implementation of projects to create an environment conducive to peaceful coexistence,
Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa, also briefing the Council, said the conflict that erupted in Sudan on 15 April between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces is not only having a devastating impact on the Sudanese population but also affecting the bilateral relationship between Khartoum and Juba.