The United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) has started a partial evacuation from parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal's Aweil North and Aweil East counties on Tuesday, officials and community representatives said.
UNISFA forces who were meant for the disputed Abyei region were also deployed in the contested Mile 14 area which comprises parts of South Sudan's Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.
On August 11th, 2021, communities of Aweil North and Aweil East counties staged peaceful protests accusing UNISFA of annexing Kiir Adem and Gokmachar areas of Aweil North and War Abar area of Aweil East to Sudan and called for the immediate withdrawal of the forces from their territories.
James Khon Ngong, an intellectual in Aweil North applauded the evacuation saying the community's demand has been met.
“Their troops in Kiir Adem were transported back to Gokmachar, and they are ready to leave. That one will be good for us because that is our request to see them evacuating our areas,’’ says Ngong.
Dau Deng, a community representative in Aweil North, also said the withdrawal is necessary. He said, "That is a good step because the forces are meant for Abyei, not for Gokmachar nor Aweil North. They must go back to Abyei because they don’t have any relation with Gokmachar, it is even clear in spelling: the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei."
Aweil North police inspector Brigadier General Mabior Deng Deng said the evacuation is in progress and is done in phases.
"The news is that the UNISFA is relocating its armies since yesterday (Tuesday) from Kiir Adem to Gokmachar. They brought some today (Wednesday) and they went back to bring some soldiers from there. If they will complete the relocation, they will decide later on with local communities where are they heading to,’’ he added.
Aweil North County commissioner Victerino Ken Akoon said: "According to the evacuation plan that they gave to the civilians, they said the deadline for evacuation from Kiir Adem to Gokmachar is tomorrow 26 August and the communities are insisting that if the forces arrive in Gokmachar, they have to proceed to where they are supposed to go.”
Ken added that the forces in Aweil East’s War Abar area will be transported to Aweil town first before leaving the area.
Mile 14 is a disputed area of grazing land located between Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in South Sudan and East Darfur State in Sudan south of the River Kiir/Bahr El Arab.