The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have expressed interest in administering the disputed Abyei region, including appointing a parallel co-chair of a joint oversight committee. This move has raised concerns about the Sudanese conflict spilling into the area, according to United Nations Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Guang Cong. He told the Security Council that the RSF's involvement falls outside the framework of agreements and established mechanisms between Sudan and South Sudan.
The RSF's parallel appointment of an Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) co-chair in August has sparked concerns about the implications of Sudan's war for the fragile security and political arrangements in Abyei. The AJOC, a key bilateral mechanism for overseeing the disputed territory, has been inactive since 2017. Cong said his office had engaged officials from both countries on reactivating the committee, with both governments expressing willingness to resume its work.
However, the resumption of the AJOC's work has yet to translate into concrete action. Sudan's foreign minister pledged support for the AJOC mechanism in October, following reports of a reshuffle and the appointment of a new committee co-chair in September. The resumption of a meeting of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) in Juba in August marked an important step towards restoring bilateral cooperation.
A follow-up meeting scheduled for October 20 was postponed to November 8-10. Security concerns have grown due to the increasing presence of armed elements in Abyei, threatening efforts by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the Abyei Area Special Administration, and traditional leaders to preserve the area's demilitarised status.
Clashes involving Misseriya, Nuba, and Ngok Dinka groups around Amiet market in September, as well as tensions between the Ngok Dinka and Twic Dinka communities, have raised concerns. On October 19, drone attacks on Amiet market caused mass civilian casualties in one of the deadliest incidents in Abyei's history. Cong condemned the strikes and called for an independent investigation to establish the facts and hold those responsible accountable.
The attacks were a consequence of the spillover from Sudan's conflict and have further worsened Abyei's already severe humanitarian situation. More than 50,000 South Sudanese returnees, Sudanese refugees, and other asylum seekers have crossed into South Sudan through Abyei. Attacks on civilians, food shortages, and funding constraints have compounded humanitarian needs.
The resolution of Abyei's final status remains the most significant outstanding issue between Sudan and South Sudan, hampered by limited political will, domestic security pressures, the stalled referendum, and disagreements over joint administration and police arrangements. Cong urged both governments to strengthen the work of their respective committees, reactivate the AJOC, and facilitate regular meetings of the JPSM to advance negotiations on Abyei's future.
Key points
- The RSF's involvement in Abyei affairs falls outside the framework of agreements and established mechanisms between Sudan and South Sudan.
- The AJOC has been inactive since 2017, and its resumption is crucial for overseeing the disputed territory.
- The resolution of Abyei's final status remains a significant outstanding issue between Sudan and South Sudan.
