UNISFA troops on patrol in Abyei. (Credit: AFP)

Troika denounces attacks on UNISFA and in the Abyei Region

The Embassies of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States in a statement on Monday strongly condemned the series of armed attacks on January 27 and 28 on a United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) base and on UNISFA personnel.

The Embassies of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States in a statement on Monday strongly condemned the series of armed attacks on January 27 and 28 on a United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) base and on UNISFA personnel.

The attacks in the contested Abyei Region led to the deaths of two peacekeepers, injuries to several other UNISFA personnel, and wider civilian casualties. The two peacekeepers killed were from Ghana and Pakistan. 

“We express our deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers and of the civilians who lost their lives.  We stand with our UNISFA colleagues during this difficult time,” the statement read in part. “We denounce in the strongest terms the targeting of United Nations peacekeepers and call for those responsible for these attacks to be held accountable.”

“We are deeply concerned by the escalation of violence in recent months between communities living in and around the Abyei Administrative Area,” the statement added.

The Troika called on South Sudanese political and community leaders to act expeditiously to end the conflict. 

“All leaders who have influence with involved communities and who fail to use it to support peace are demonstrating their disregard for the interests of their people,” the statement concluded.