Abyei calls for increased peacekeeping support

ABYEI – Authorities in the Abyei Administrative Area are urging the deployment of stronger peacekeeping forces to address ongoing violence in the contested region.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Thursday, Abyei Information Minister Bulis Koc expressed frustration with the limited capacity of current peacekeeping forces to intervene in violent incidents.

This follows a recent clash in Abyei’s Rumamer County where the county commissioner and minister of law enforcement were injured.

“I am appealing to the international community and regional authorities such as IGAD to look into the issue of Abyei critically,” Koc said.

“The forces that are deployed in Abyei, more specially the Ghanaian forces, can’t help in mitigating the escalating scenarios such as what happened at Rumamer,” he added.

He continued that the area “need powerful forces which can easily deescalate the violent conflicts… We need those who react immediately in helping the local civilians.”

Abyei faces ongoing insecurity, including land disputes, attacks from neighboring areas, and clashes with Misseriya militias accused of cattle raiding and violence.