South Sudan: Thousands displaced by fighting in Abyei, 100 people killed including UN peacekeepers

Cartoon credit: Cartoonist Adija @AdijaAcuil 

Caption: "Abyei and the Stakeholders 

#SSOX #UN #UNSC #AU #IGAD #UNISFA"

Source: https://twitter.com/AdijaAcuil/status/1727616044544512400 

Nov 23, 2023

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"The UN says more than 2,200 people, most of them women and children, are sheltering at one of its compounds in Rumajak, about 7km (4 miles) north of Abyei town. The humanitarian body also says it is beefing up land and air patrols to deter further violence". Read more.

From BBC News

By Anne Soy, BBC News, Nairobi

Dated Friday, 9 February 2024 - here is a copy in full:

Thousands forced out by fighting in disputed Abyei region

Humanitarian agencies have warned that two weeks of fighting in the oil-rich region of Abyei on the border between Sudan and South Sudan have led to widespread displacement and hindered efforts to distribute aid.

Both countries jointly administer Abyei and claim ownership of the region.

The clashes have been linked to conflict between rival factions of the Dinka ethnic group - called the Ngok and the Twic.

Close to 100 people including UN peacekeepers have been killed.

Britain, the US and Norway - known as the Troika - have called on the South Sudanese government to hold accountable those behind the attacks.

Save the Children also says there have been incidents of looting of health and nutrition supplies at one of its health facilities.

The UN says more than 2,200 people, most of them women and children, are sheltering at one of its compounds in Rumajak, about 7km (4 miles) north of Abyei town. The humanitarian body also says it is beefing up land and air patrols to deter further violence.

Click here to view original. 

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Cartoon credit: Cartoonist Adija @AdijaAcuil 

Caption “No comment. #SSOT”. 

Source: https://twitter.com/AdijaAcuil/status/1665807379034767367 

Jun 5, 2023

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South Sudan: Origins of the Ngok-Twic conflict

The recent cycle of violence in Abyei has not been the traditional Misseriya-Ngok Dinka conflict but rather between armed elements of the Twic Dinka & Ngok Dinka. For more background: https://t.co/29FCedzl5F https://t.co/qZ5JOUpbuy

— Lauren Blanchard (@LaurenBinDC) February 4, 2024

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The above Feb 4 post at X by Eddie Thomas contains an informative thread.

From Small Arms Survey (as per link in above Feb 4 post at X by Lauren Blanchard @LaurenBinDC):

Origins of the Ngok–Twic conflict 

The Ngok and Twic Dinka are historically very close. Friction only emerged in 2017, when the Abyei Area Administration (AAA) began a land registry in Annet, a bustling market near Agok, in southern Abyei. The Twic Dinka denounced the land registry, which was subsequently halted. The putative reason for this discontent was that some Twic Dinka claimed that Agok and Annet are located within Twic county, Warrap state. The Ngok Dinka, however, consider the boundaries of Abyei to have been determined by a decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2009, and Agok and Annet to be part of their territory. The Twic’s claim to these territories is very recent in origin and is not actually about long-standing territorial disagreements, but rather an attempt to control Annet and the humanitarian hub in Agok, where many international NGOs based themselves following SAF’s invasion of Abyei. 

Twic claims to southern Abyei are bound up in the mutual marginalization of the two communities. The Ngok Dinka feel forgotten by a South Sudanese government intent on forging a relationship with Khartoum. The Twic, too, feel marginalized; the removal of Bona Panek (the then Twic governor of Warrap) and his replacement by Aleu Ayieny Aleu saw the Twic lose influence in Kuajok and Juba (Craze, 2022). The Twic saw the weakness of Ngok Dinka as an opportunity. Agok’s status as a humanitarian hub and the tax base offered by Annet have provided a source of income for the AAA. Twic county has seen almost no economic development and, like the rest of South Sudan, has suffered from a government in Juba bent on the illegitimate acquisition of resources (Craze, 2023). Twic county is not alone: communities across the country have made exclusive claims to control of territory and resources in response to the exploitation of the country by politicians in Juba, and the withdrawal of the government from the provision of wages and services (Craze and Marko, 2022). 

View original: https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/attacked-both-sides-abyeis-existential-dilemma/origins-ngok-twic-conflict 

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What's behind the renewed violence in the disputed Abyei region along South Sudan's border with Sudan?

THE below copied Feb 1, 2024 post at X microblogging platform is by Akol Miyen Kuol @AkolMiyenKuol. Based in Nairobi, Kenya and popularly known as Akoldit, he has authored several books including @AbyeiStatus and is a poet, journalist, political analyst and peace advocate. He was born in the oil-rich region of Abyei in 1974 and has lived in Khartoum | Ex @BBC | Ex @NDI | Ex @UNICEF | #Sudan | #SouthSudan | #Abyei | amazon.com/Books-Akol-Miy… 

For those who would like to understand the #Abyei issue well, please watch Aljazeera's Inside Story. Note: Abyei is the territory of the Nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms.
What’s behind the renewed violence on South Sudan’s border with Sudan? https://t.co/8xIlmZ9Tpj via @AJEnglish

— Akol Miyen Kuol (@AkolMiyenKuol) February 1, 2024

Direct link:
https://twitter.com/AkolMiyenKuol/status/1753140252242301182 

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VIDEO report from Aljazeera.com

By Inside Story

Dated Tuesday, 30 January 2024 - here is a copy in full:

What’s behind the renewed violence on South Sudan’s border with Sudan?

More than 50 people were killed in the violence along the border between Sudan and South Sudan.

The disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan is under curfew after attacks by a South Sudanese rebel group.

More than 50 people were killed in the violence, including women, children and UN peacekeepers.

The area has been volatile for many years, with inter-communal conflict and competing claims by the neighbours.

International peace efforts have essentially stalled since the conflict in Sudan began last year.

South Sudan gained its independence in 2011, but quickly plunged into war.

A peace deal was reached in 2018.

Will this latest violence threaten that agreement? And what’s the effect on the people?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests: 

Kennedy Mabongo – Country director for the aid agency Norwegian Refugee Council in South Sudan

Douglas Johnson – Scholar on Sudan and South Sudan who served on the Abyei Border Commission

Joshua Craze – Researcher on Sudan and South Sudan who’s been in contact with parties to the conflict in Abyei in the past few days

Video: Duration 28 minutes 00 seconds

To view original and video click here: https://aje.io/ujsxxk

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S. Sudan: 1 killed, 4 wounded at Abyei-Twic border

From Radio Tamazuj
Dated Thursday, 14 December 2023 - here is a full copy:

One killed, four wounded at Abyei-Twic border

The authorities of Warrap State's Twic County and Abyei Special Administrative Area (ASAA) on Wednesday traded accusations over fresh fighting along their border in which one person died and four others were injured.

The fighting happened in Malual Aleu village in the Athony area.

Twic County Commissioner Simon Aguek accused armed Ngok Dinka youth from Abyei of attacking the youth in his county.

“Armed youth from Abyei clashed with armed youth from Twic in Malual Aleu village which is claimed by Twic County and Abyei and one person from my side was killed and four people were wounded on Tuesday and the injured are admitted in Mayen Abun Hospital,” he said.

Aguek also said that two Twic youths who were traveling in a vehicle belonging to the UNHCR were kidnapped by the Abyei youth.

“I am now in the meeting with UNHCR officials who want to know the whereabouts of two youths who were taken out of their car by youth suspected to be from Abyei,” he added.

Meanwhile, Abyei Information Minister Bulis Koch accused armed youth from Twic County of erecting an illegal checkpoint in Abyei which angered the local youth.

“On Tuesday there were clashes between our armed youth and those of Twic because they (Twic youth) erected another illegal checkpoint in Athony area near Malual Aleu village and Abyei area youth clashed with them (Twic armed youth) and four youth from Twic County were shot and Abyei youth never experienced any injuries or losses, he said. “What Twic did was bad because they beheaded two youths from Abyei during the past incident in Ayuok village and money was put in their mouths.  It is something inhuman and this was known when Twic armed youth posted it on Social media. I will share these pictures with you today.”

Minister Koch also accused the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and SSPDF of not protecting the civilians of Abyei.

"That was why the civil society organizations in Abyei protested and called for the removal of the UNISFA commander because they respond only after an incident or when fighting has stopped,” he stated. “The same thing is also done by the SSPDF. They are near where two groups of youth clashed and they did not come out to stop the fighting.”

View original: https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/one-killed-four-wounded-at-abyei-twic-border

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S. Sudan: Abyeins demand SSPDF & SAF withdrawal

Report at Radio Tamazuj, Abyei 
Dated, Monday 27 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:

Abyei citizens protest insecurity, demand SSPDF and SAF withdrawal

The Abyei Civil Society Organization (ACSO) is calling for the withdrawal of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) from the disputed Abyei region.

In a position paper shared with Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, the people of the Abyei Special Administrative Area protested against what they perceive as the “explicit failure of UNISFA in protecting Ngok Dinka.”

The ACSO Secretary for Information highlighted concerns about the presence of SSPDF in certain areas in Abyei and SAF in Diffra. 

They argue that these deployments compromise UNISFA’s mandate to protect civilians and represent a violation of the agreement adopted by the United Nations Security Council in resolutions No. 1990 (2011).

“We, the Ngok Dinka, demand the immediate withdrawal of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) from Abyei. Our statement reflects the collective sentiment of the community, as we have mobilized from all villages and areas of Abyei to express our deep dissatisfaction and frustration with the repeated failure of UNISFA to protect the lives of innocent civilians,” the statement declares.

“The ongoing series of deadly attacks on Ngok Dinka villages have resulted in the death and injury of hundreds of civilians, predominantly women and children. The recent attacks on the villages of Ayuok, Athony, Malual Aleu, Ka-dhian, Nyiel, Angot Wuncuei, and Wunpeeth have left more than 47 people dead and 34 people wounded,” the letter details.

Miyen Ayuong Ajuong, the spokesperson for Abyei Civil Society, told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that the presence of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Agok town and other areas south of the River Kiir constitutes a violation. Ajuong asserted that the SSPDF, along with the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in Abyei, should be withdrawn.

“This stance is not solely that of ACSO but reflects the sentiment of the entire Ngok Dinka population in Abyei. We are discontent and unwilling to accept the situation affecting innocent civilians in Abyei. 

Civilians are being attacked and killed, especially with the SSPDF spreading in the south of River Kiir. Their involvement in certain attacks, facilitated by Twic armed youth and other militia forces, is a cause for concern. The SSPDF should function as a national army protecting all inhabitants of South Sudan,” he emphasized.

He further criticized the current UNISFA commander, asserting that Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr is ineffective in leading UNISFA. According to him, the mission commander has failed in his responsibilities.

He stated, “The 20 June 2011 agreement stipulated that Abyei should remain a weapons-free zone under regional protection, such as that provided by UNISFA. However, Major General Sawyerr is unable to effectively lead UNISFA. Therefore, the Nigerian and Ghanaian peacekeepers must be replaced by other forces capable of ensuring civilian protection.”

Meanwhile, Bulis Koch, Abyei’s Minister of Information, acknowledged the existence of the protest letter. He clarified, “Abyei’s people, through civil society organizations, have expressed their protest in a peaceful manner. The government is not involved in the protest. Civil society has the right to voice their frustrations, and we do not condone any harm or aggression towards foreign personnel.”

Sudan and South Sudan are still disputing the oil-rich Abyei area. The two countries have yet to agree on the border mapping since South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) was deployed in June 2011 to protect civilians under the imminent threat of physical violence.

View original: https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/abyei-citizens-protest-insecurity-demand-sspdf-and-saf-withdrawal

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