UN extends mandate in Abyei following South Sudan-Sudan standoff

The United Nations Security Council has extended its peacekeeping mandate in the oil-rich region of Abyei to November 15 following the failure by South Sudan and Sudan to agree on a peace accord.

The council made a unanimous decision on Tuesday to extend the stay of the military and police of the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) till the two nations find an agreement.

The security officers serving in the peace keeping mission comprises atleast 4,000 Ethiopian officers who will continue serving after the US drew the resolution.

A resolution from the council noted that “that the Abyei Area shall be demilitarised from any forces, as well as armed elements of the local communities, other than UNISFA and the Abyei police.”

It directed “the governments of Sudan and South Sudan and the local communities to take all necessary steps to ensure that Abyei is effectively demilitarised.”

The Security Council called on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to provide a strategic review of the peacekeeping mission and a political assessment of events in Sudan and South Sudan “no later than 30 September 2021… providing detailed recommendations for further reconfiguration of the mission and establishing a viable exit strategy.”