On Tuesday, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced that his forces would not withdraw from Abyei, the disputed region between North and South Sudan which was invaded by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) over the weekend. The attacks caused massive displacement and have strained the already tense relationship between the North and South who must resolve several post-referendum issues, including as Abyei, before the South becomes independent on July 9th.
Abyei town shops burning after being ransacked. Photo from the Enough Project
The attacks by the Sudanese government have caused nearly all of its residents and humanitarian organizations operating in the Abyei to desert the town and surrounding villages. The United Nations headquarters in Abyei town was shelled during the invasion and several of the UN personnel were relocated due to violence. UN peacekeepers have had limited access to investigate and respond to attacks by the SAF and militias, however, today an additional company of peacekeepers were deployed today and have begun conducting ground patrols.
UN spokeswoman Hua Jinag confirmed that four United Nations helicopters were shot at on Tuesday and that militias from the Misseriya, a nomadic tribe who seasonally travel through Abyei, supported by the Government of Sudan were most likely responsible for the attack. Jinag also confirmed reports that the militias from the Misseriya tribe supported by the Sudanese government have begun to move into the Abyei territory and along with the SAF have looted and burned homes throughout the region.
According to a New York Times report, a Sudanese general told UN officials that the Government of Sudan plans to bring 15,000 Misseriya to Abyei. Already an estimated 5,000-10,000 members of the Misseriya have entered the disputed region. This is a troubling signal that the SAF invasion of Abyei may have the goal of cleansing the region of the Ngok Dinka, the permanent residents of the region many of whom have fled south.
Also on Tuesday, Bashir granted permission to the SAF to respond to any violations or provocations by Southern Sudanese forces, a dangerous indication of the increasing potential that the future of Abyei could reignite the conflict between North and South Sudan which has plagued the country for nearly four decades.
To learn more about the recent attacks in Abyei please join us for a policy call on recent violence in Abyei:
When: Thursday, May 26 at 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: Your phone: dial (712) 432-0900; participant code: 154845#.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Save Darfur Coalition.
Tags: Abyei, Misseriya, Omar al-Bashir, SAF, UNMIS
