Sudan’s interior ministry, UNISFA officials discuss the situation in Abyei

September 6, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s interior ministry and police officials from the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) on Sunday have discussed the situation in the contested area of Abyei.

The deputy director-general of police, Lieut. General Omer Mohamed Ali has discussed with the UNISFA senior police adviser, Mohamed Suraji, the security situation in Abyei in the presence of the Abyei dossier official at Sudan’s police, Maj. General Salah al-Din Nur al-Dai’m, and the head of the general-directorate of international relations, Maj. General Abdallah al-Amin al-Shingaiti.

The police press office has quoted Nur al-Dai’m as saying the meeting aimed to coordinate efforts and to ensure complementarity of roles between the two sides in order to achieve security and stability in the area.

He said the two sides reviewed efforts and tasks carried out by the UN Police (UNPOL) to maintain security in accordance with Abyei Protocol, adding the meeting urged all parties to speed up the establishment of the Abyei police force to carry out its functions and duties to achieve security in the region.

The South Sudanese side refuses the establishment of a joint administration and a police force in line with the 20 June 2011 agreement. Juba propose to go beyond this deal and hold the referendum on the future of the region.

However, the police official added the two sides agreed to establish a link between Sudan’s police and the UNPOL in Abyei to control any security breaches in the area.

According to Nur al-Dai’m, Sudan’s police promised to provide assistance to the UNPOL at the federal and state levels in order to carry out its duties.

Abyei was scheduled to hold a referendum to determine the fate of the border region in January 2011. However the vote was suspended because the two countries continue to disagree over the participation of the Misseriya nomads in the process.

UNISFA’s establishment came after the government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) reached an agreement in Addis Ababa, to demilitarize Abyei and let Ethiopian troops to monitor the area.

Composed mainly of Ethiopian troops, the 5,000 strong force was established following the seizure of Abyei by the Sudanese army in May 2011 after clashes with the southern army (SPLA) in the area.

The operation has been tasked with monitoring the flashpoint border between north and south and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, and is authorized to use force in protecting civilians and humanitarian workers in Abyei.

(ST)