UN peacekeeping chief says concerned over “trust deficit” in Abyei
April 21, 2022 (NEW YORK) – The overall security situation in the Abyei Administrative Area has remained calm, but the trust deficit between the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities remains of great concern, the head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Department told the Security Council on Thursday.
Speaking by videoconference, Jean-Pierre Lacroix said the UN mission worked tirelessly with the Sudan and South Sudan governments and community leaders on both sides to come to an agreement on this dry season’s migration route.
“It is first and foremost for the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to renew their engagement on the final status of Abyei,” he explained.
Lacroix further welcomed the recent request for support from both parties towards organizing the next Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) meeting.
The UN official was briefing the 15-member Council on the work of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in the disputed oil-producing area.
Last week, 29 people were killed and 30 wounded in clashes within Abyei.
“These deaths and injuries could have been avoided had there been more trust between the two communities at all levels,” Lacroix told the Council.
He appealed to the Security Council to continue to support the Abyei Joint Programme to promote areas of shared interest for the two communities, such as transhumance, border management and protection mechanisms for women, children, and vulnerable groups.
According to Lacroix, significant progress were made since the programme was proposed in September and consultations with women, youth, elders and other community members were now at an advanced stage.
He specifically lack of expertise in documenting human rights violations as one of the challenges affecting its peacekeeping mission in Abyei region.
The UN peacekeeping chief further reported that the humanitarian situation in Abyei had deteriorated since his last briefing in October 2021, with the number of people requiring aid rising from 103,000 to 240,000.
This, he said, was largely due to deadly violence between Twic Dinka and Ngok Dinka communities that left over 25 people dead earlier this year.
Lacroix urged the Council to extend UNISFA’s mandate for an additional six months.
Separately, the UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Hannah Tetteh said the coup in Sudan negatively affected bilateral relations between Sudan and South Sudan, which had started deepening but they are now trying to re-boot.
She said South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir and the head of the Sovereign Council in Sudan, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan agreed to focus on cooperation along the border, starting with an approach to peace through the development of unitized oil fields, including in Abyei.
(ST)