Juba, South Sudan
May 18, 2022 — The government of South Sudan has resolved to send South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) to curb rising insecurity in the Abyei Administrative Area.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Information, Michael Makuei, after the cabinet meeting in Juba on Friday.
The decision came barely a week after fresh fighting was reported in the area of Malual-Aleu between Ngok Dinka and Twic, leaving scores injured.
In reports seen by Nyamilepedia, the insecurity forced travelers heading to the Abyei area from Wau to make a u-turn and return back to Wau.
Makuei, who is the government official spokesman, said the decision was reached over failure by the UNISFA team to secure the lives and properties of the citizens in the area.
“Despite their intervention, they could not solve any problem and as such, it is decided that the UNMISS force should be informed to be vigilant, keep and maintain law and order…The SSPDF will be sent to the site in order to control the situation,” Makuei told reporters.
He stressed that the cabinet has also resolved to reinforce the investigation committee formed by the president last month to bring about peace between Ngok Dinka and Twic communities.
“The investigation committee needs to be strengthened so that the two parties can continue to maintain law and order until that time when the committee presents its report to the cabinet,” he said.
In recent months, violence intensified in the contested region despite the presence of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNISFA) in the area.
Authorities in the area said some of the attacks were carried out by the Sudanese Messeriya community.
According to reports, most of recent attacks happened last month in the area where more than 40 civilians including women and children were killed by suspected Messeriya tribesmen in separate incidents in the area.
