74,000 residents return to secure Abyei areas: South Sudan

Thousands of residents of Abyei, on the border between Sudan and South Sudan, have returned to the contested area after certain parts have witnessed a steady security situation.

“About 74,000 of the residents” have returned to the eastern areas of Abyei so far, according to Deng Meding, the chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Government of South Sudan. He told Radio Dabanga that the returnees have settled in Tageli, Longe, Romamir and Nadol.

“There has been an improvement in health and water services, and the education in the schools of these areas is stable.” Meding praised the efforts made by the UN agencies.

Regarding the security situation in all of Abyei, Meding said that there is a relative stability, but pointed out that there remain small armed groups that storm markets and terrorise citizens. The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) that monitors the situation since 2011 does not have the mandate to arrest and prosecute the criminals, the chairman said.

“UNISFA troops have arrested many armed criminals and released them after disarming them,” according to Meding.

“In addition, Sudanese troops are present in El Dafra area without legitimacy. The government argues that those forces are there to protect oil. We have repeatedly demanded the departure of these troops.”

The oil-rich Abyei area has been in contention between Sudan ever since the secession of South Sudan in 2011. There is no government or police force. Its status has been unresolved after the governments failed to agree on the border division. A United Nations peacekeeping mission, UNISFA, is entrusted with overseeing demilitarisation and maintaining security.

Residents in Abyei were banned from areas in the northern part of the area following a deadly attack on a market in the northern areas of Noo and Aniet last July.

Related:

Council calls on Sudan for civil, humanitarian services in Abyei (24 June 2016)