UN mission beefs up presence in Abyei to stave off further violence

March 3, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has begun to increase its presence in Sudan’s volatile area of Abyei in order to prevent recurrence of violence which erupted in the area this week and killed dozens, the mission announced in a statement on Thursday.

Forty people were reported dead and dozens wounded when clashes broke out twice in a row this week, on 27 and 28 February, between local police in Abyei and what are believed to be members of the cattle-herding, Arab tribe of Misseriya in the contested area of Abyei.

Abyei area straddles the un-demarcated borders between north and south Sudan, and suffers the divide between the southern tribe of Dinka Ngok and Misseriya tribesmen who traverses the borders into the area nine months a year to graze their cattle.

“In reaction to the recent clashes north of Abyei town and to prevent an escalation in violence, UNMIS has started to enhance its presence in this location by reinforcing its current capacity of 4 companies with an additional company,” the mission said in a press release seen by Sudan Tribune.

The mission said that the surge in deployment would enable its patrols to increase the frequency and visibility of the mission’s troops throughout Abyei.

UNMIS was established in 2005 to monitor the peace deal signed that year between north and south Sudan. The mission’s current strength stands at 10,519 total uniformed personnel as well as 966 international civilian staff.

The north-south deal known as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) had ended two decades of civil war between the two sides, and provided for the conduct of a referendum on South Sudan’s independence.

South Sudan voted massively for independence in January and is preparing to be officially declared independence when the deal expires in July this year.

North Sudan last month said it had no intention of renewing UNMIS mandate beyond July. The mission is expected to relocate entirely to the south after independence.

Under the CPA, Abyei was supposed to hold a similar referendum in January to determine whether it wants to join the south or the north, however, the vote was held hostage to political disagreements between north and south Sudan over the eligibility to vote.

Meanwhile, the head of UNMIS deplored in a separate statement the outbreak of violence in Abyei, urging north and south Sudan to adhere to their previous commitments and expedite settlement of the conflict.

In a related development, the US Administration has “condemned” violence in Abyei and urged Sudan to facilitate access of UNMIS patrols to the affected areas.

“The United States calls on local and national authorities to ensure that the UN Mission in Sudan has the access required to protect civilians, increase patrols where fighting is taking place, and engage with local leaders to restore calm,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said in a statement

Crowley urged north and south Sudan to renew their efforts to find a lasting settlement to Abyei dispute.

North and South have yet to agree on a wide array of post-referendum issues such as the dispute over the oil-producing region of Abyei, border demarcation, citizenship, water, oil, national debt and international agreements.

(ST)