At Least 26 Killed in Clashes Along Sudan-South Sudan Border

At least 26 people have been killed and 82 injured following several days of intercommunal fighting in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan.

The United Nations said on Thursday that it had strengthened its security presence around Abyei town as tensions continued between rival communities.

The latest violence erupted at the Amiet Common Market after the separate killings of a Ngok Dinka man on Monday and a Misseriya man on Tuesday. According to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the deaths triggered a rapid escalation in tensions between the two communities.

Violence has repeatedly erupted in Abyei, where disputes over grazing land, water sources and access to territory have fuelled tensions between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya pastoral communities.

The Misseriya are predominantly Arab pastoralists from Sudan who traditionally move south into the Abyei area during the dry season in search of grazing land and water for their livestock. The Ngok Dinka are the region's permanent residents.

UNISFA said it was engaging with community leaders from both sides, who had reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the latest violence.

Lieutenant General Ganesh Kumar Shreshta, a senior UNISFA official, said preventing further deaths remained the force's immediate priority and urged community leaders to support dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

The UN force said it was also taking measures to protect civilians and prevent retaliatory attacks.

UNISFA has about 3,000 military and police personnel and was established to help protect civilians and maintain security in Abyei.

The region has remained disputed since South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011. Abyei is strategically important because of its oil resources, with both Sudan and South Sudan continuing to claim the territory.

The unresolved status of Abyei has contributed to recurring tensions and violence between communities living in and around the region.

South Sudan has experienced relative stability since a 2018 peace agreement ended a five-year civil war that killed thousands of people.

The country is scheduled to hold its first elections since independence in December, adding further significance to efforts to maintain stability and prevent renewed violence.