Security Council Speakers Urge Sudan, South Sudan to Revive Abyei Political Process amid Rising Violence, Reduced UN Presence on Ground

The conflict in Sudan and instability in South Sudan are delaying agreement on Abyei’s final status and degrading conditions in the demilitarized area, United Nations officials warned the Security Council today, as delegates called for the urgent revival of stalled joint oversight mechanisms and diplomatic resolve to advance a durable political solution.

Both Governments have reaffirmed their commitment to Abyei’s demilitarized status and revival of both the Joint Political and Security Mechanism and the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, said Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations.

“They did not, however, meet during the reporting period”, she warned.  Security conditions have deteriorated over the past six months, due to criminality, weapons proliferation and the presence of unauthorized armed actors.  The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) recorded 196 security incidents and 58 fatalities — a significant increase over the previous reporting period.

In Sector South, she said the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and National Police Service continued to maintain an unauthorized presence through checkpoints and the occupation of civilian infrastructure.  The presence of the Rapid Support Forces in northern Abyei, particularly around Goli and Diffra, remained a serious concern.

Drone Attacks ‘Major Setback’ for Joint Border Verification, Monitoring

Against that backdrop, she described the three drone attacks at the Kadugli logistics base in Sudan, which killed six peacekeepers from Bangladesh and injured nine others in December 2025, as “a major operational setback” for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism.

The events forced UNISFA to relocate and then closed all team sites, she said, suspending its physical presence in the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone for the first time since the Mechanism’s establishment.  As the Abyei Police Service has yet to be established, and in the absence of formal law enforcement, community protection committees continue to shoulder policing responsibilities, supported by UNISFA.

War Continues to Shape Sudan-South Sudan Relations

“The relationship between Sudan and South Sudan continues to be determined by the war in Sudan”, said Guang Cong, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa.  Since the conflict began in 2023, over 1.3 million refugees and returnees have fled to South Sudan, increasing pressure on limited access to food, basic healthcare and education services. 

Mindful of the war’s impact on both countries, the two Governments have sought to maintain a “constructive bilateral relationship” through high-level engagement in December 2025 and January 2026. Discussions focused on securing borders, securing the Heglig oil field and maintaining bilateral trade.

However, “Abyei’s final status remains one of the most important unresolved issues”, he said.  During his visit last week, Abyei authorities, traditional leaders, civil society and women and youth representatives all expressed their serious concern over the lack of progress and called for the immediate deployment of additional UN police.

For its part, his Office continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to support preparations for renewed bilateral dialogue on Abyei, focused on “the need for both Governments to make progress against the benchmarks linked to UNISFA’s mandate renewal and address prevailing security dynamics that risk impeding political progress”.

Calls Grow to Resolve Abyei Final Status

In the ensuing discussion, Council members stressed that Abyei’s unresolved final status requires renewed political commitment by Sudan and South Sudan.

The representative of the United States voiced frustration over the “lack of conviction” to use UNISFA as an opportunity to consolidate peace. “We cannot want peace more than the parties themselves”, he stressed.  He demanded that all unauthorized armed elements withdraw and pressed both Governments to enable deployment of UN Police and establish the Abyei Police Service.

The representative of Liberia, also speaking for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, said that while “indispensable”, the Force “cannot substitute for political will”.  Sustainable peace in Abyei ultimately depends on the commitment of Sudan and South Sudan to resolve their differences through dialogue.  He expressed concern over “approaches that seek to link the future of [UNISFA] to benchmarks that are largely outside [its] control”.

“Any definitive solution must be a political one”, echoed China’s delegate, Council President for May and speaking in his national capacity, to urge parties to uphold the 2011 Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei Area, including Abyei’s demilitarized status.  He welcomed community initiatives to curb weapons proliferation and UNISFA-backed dialogue.

The representative of the Russian Federation, noting that the Sudanese Armed Forces are not in Abyei, blamed “actions of those elements that oppose Khartoum” for obstructing a substantive settlement process.  She drew attention to UNISFA’s efforts to assist Sudan and South Sudan in settling the border dispute.  Until the final status of Abyei is agreed, a reduction or drawdown of forces is “premature”, she said.

The December drone attacks against UNISFA’s Kadugli base drew broad condemnation, with the United Kingdom’s delegate calling for accountability and stronger protection of United Nations personnel.  She warned that restrictions on freedom of movement delay progress on key benchmarks and the presence of unauthorized forces undermines Abyei’s demilitarized status.

Several speakers focused on UNISFA’s operational capacity.  Panama’s representative stressed that a 15 per cent budget reduction is “seriously affecting” the Force’s ability to operate.  France’s delegate similarly stressed that Sudan and South Sudan must address “all obstacles to the smooth running” of UNISFA, and that its future should be “based on an analysis of the political and security situation”.

Pakistan’s delegate warned:  “We must not place a cost ceiling on the safety of those who serve the mandates assigned by this Council.”  It is “difficult to justify” the deployment of police units and personnel as “necessary”, he said, while failing to provide financial means to do so.  Latvia’s representative said UNISFA must adapt by using satellite imagery and other data-driven tools, but cautioned that technology should assist, not replace, peacekeepers.

Civilians, Children Bear Brunt of Violence

Several delegates focused on the civilian toll of the violence.  Bahrain’s delegate voiced concern over weapons proliferation, landmines and “unauthorized armed individuals controlling civilian facilities” in Abyei, while Colombia’s representative said the closure of all team sites in the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone and delays in establishing the Abyei Police Service leave civilians increasingly vulnerable.

Greece’s speaker expressed particular concern for the situation of children in Abyei and described as “deeply alarming” reports of grave violations, including conflict-related sexual violence, against minors.  The representative of Denmark said Abyei’s civilians remain “trapped by years of an unchanging status quo”, as she condemned the presence of the Rapid Support Forces, South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and other armed elements in the demilitarized zone.

Khartoum Calls for Accountability in Drone Attacks, as Juba Rejects Claims of Non-Compliance with 2011 Peace Accord

In turn, Sudan’s representative called on the Council to hold the United Arab Emirates accountable for supplying the Rapid Support Forces with the drones used to attack UNISFA, which makes that country “an accomplice in this war crime”.  Turning to the 2011 Agreement, he said Khartoum is ready to establish the temporary administrative and security mechanisms envisioned by that accord, and expressed hope that Juba will “likewise adhere” to these provisions.

Sudan is committed to meeting the benchmarks established by the Council when it renewed the UNISFA mandate, he said, and has decided to approve the deployment of the authorized police units.  A sustainable solution to the Abyei issue “can only be achieved through genuine dialogue and cooperation between the two countries, away from any escalation or unilateral measures”, he stressed.

South Sudan’s representative said her country remains committed to the realization of Abyei’s final status, the 2011 Agreement and relevant Council resolutions.  “At the same time, implementation must remain informed by realities on the ground and by the shared responsibility to preserve stability and protect civilian lives.” In that context, she said the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces were deployed to Abyei following serious intercommunal violence in October 2022 to “stabilize the situation and prevent further unrest and to save civilian lives”.

She rejected “allegations suggesting non-compliance” with the status-of-forces agreement.  She asked the Council to consider where and how the people of Abyei work, live and survive.  “Surely it is not only happening through the peacekeeping mission.”  She reaffirmed South Sudan’s sovereign rights and responsibilities — “including with respect to administrative facilitation in Abyei”.  Sustainable peace will ultimately depend on “dialogue, mutual respect and the collective commitment of all stakeholders to stability and coexistence”, she concluded.