Juba, Abyei Chiefs Meet Over Border Security

(JUBA) – The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan, Ambassador Akuei Bona Malwal, met with the Chief Administrator of the Abyei Administrative Area, Charles Abyei, on Wednesday to discuss the current situation in Abyei and ongoing peace efforts.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed the security and humanitarian situation in the contested region of Abyei, which lies between Sudan and South Sudan.

The discussion highlighted the important role played by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in maintaining peace and protecting civilians in the region.

Ambassador Malwal and Chief Administrator Abyei recognised the need for continued coordination between the national government in Juba, local authorities in Abyei and UNISFA. They agreed that such cooperation is essential to ensure stability, prevent violence and support the local population in this sensitive and often volatile area.

The South Sudanese Foreign Ministry stated that the meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to peaceful dialogue and regional engagement over Abyei, a flashpoint area that has seen periodic tensions since South Sudan’s independence in 2011.

The presence of UNISFA, a United Nations peacekeeping mission established in 2011, remains key to maintaining order in the region, which remains disputed between Juba and Khartoum.

An official communiqué was issued after the meeting, which the Foreign Ministry described as productive and forward looking.