Secretary-General, Deeply Concerned by Violence in Abyei Area of Sudan,

 

Urges Resumption of Negotiations, Says UN Mission Could Be Reinforced

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the continued tension and violence in the Abyei area.  He calls upon the leadership of the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to restrain the local communities in Abyei and to implement the short-term containment measures as agreed in the Kadugli agreements.  The Secretary-General urges both sides to resume and conclude negotiations on Abyei as a matter of priority.

The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has intensified its patrolling activities on the ground and is on standby to reinforce its peacekeeping presence if the need arises.  The Mission, in consultation with other stakeholders, is engaging the parties to defuse tensions and prevent further escalation.

The Secretary-General deplores, however, that the Mission has been consistently refused access to areas of conflict and considerably restricted in its movement, and appeals to both parties to allow unhindered access to these areas in order to assess the situation and immediate needs on the ground.

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For information media • not an official record