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STORY: UN / ABYEI
TRT: 04:44
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 05 NOVEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters
05 NOVEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations:
“In the Abyei box, there has been a continued proliferation of small arms and heavy weaponry. Additionally, on October 21, South Sudanese officials reported an incursion of a group of Rapid Support Forces combatants, who looted Aman-Aguak and Mijak counties.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations:
“Mister President, the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has now entered its 19th month. It remains a major source of destabilization in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel regions, with dire security, humanitarian and economic consequences on Sudan’s neighbors.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations:
“Amidst ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan and political uncertainty in South Sudan, no progress can be reported this year regarding dialogue between the Sudan and South Sudan on the final status of Abyei and border issues. UNISFA continues to monitor the situation for the conditions that might be conducive to renewed talks.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations:
“The arrivals of displaced people fleeing the fighting in the Sudan have added to the strain on already limited resources in Abyei. The local population continues to face economic hardship as basic goods and commodities have become scarce. The ongoing disruption of supply lines via the Sudan has also resulted in additional logistical challenges and elevated costs for UNISFA as it continues to rely on alternative deployment routes and supply arrangements.”
10. Med shot, Cecilia A.M. Adeng
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert A. Wood, Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, United States:
“We must express our regret that no progress has been made on determining the final status of Abyei; appointing a civilian deputy head of mission for UNISFA, agreeing on border demarcation or establishing joint institutions, such as an Abyei police service. At the same time, we must stress that the Sudanese authorities’ refusal to grant visas for UNISFA Police compromises UNISFA's ability to carry out its protection of civilians and rule of law tasks.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Anna Evstigneeva, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Russian Federation:
“Sudan is in the grip of a heightened armed conflict, the epicenter of which is increasingly entangled in Darfur. South Sudan is facing the serious challenge of complying with its obligations under the revitalized peace agreement. In the light of the authorities’ decision to extend the transition period for two years and to postpone to December 2026 the first ever general elections. Both sides furthermore encounter a shortage of financial resources as well as humanitarian problems, and is subject to political blackmail and external interference, including through harnessing and legitimate unilateral measures. The situation in Abyei over recent months has not changed much for the worse. We welcome both states demonstrating a response toward the situation in Abyei.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ammar Mohammed Mahmoud, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the Republic of the Sudan:
“We reaffirm that Sudan is committed to implementing all the administrative, security and political arrangements that were agreed upon and which include the establishment of a joint administration, a Joint Legislative Council and joint police. For Abyei, we are committed to implement these arrangements as temporary measures until we reach a final solution for Abyei, a realistic solution, that takes into account the aspirations of local populations while strengthening a mutual trust between all stakeholders.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Cecilia A.M. Adeng, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, South Sudan:
“South Sudan remains steadfast in its commitment to peace and to the peaceful resolution of the Abyei final status, recognizing the complexities and the sensitivities involved, we call on all stakeholders to engage in sustained and diplomatic efforts towards a comprehensive, long-term solution that respects the rights and safety of the communities involved. The deployment of South Sudan security personnel has been a temporary measure aimed at safeguarding lives and preventing escalations of inter communal violence.”
10. Wide shot, end of the Security Council meeting
Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa said, that “no progress can be reported this year regarding dialogue between the Sudan and South Sudan on the final status of Abyei and border issues,” citing ongoing armed conflict in Sudan and political uncertainties in South Sudan as key obstacles.
The contested Abyei region has seen increased tensions and weaponization. Briefing the Security Council today (05 Nov) in New York City, Pobee said, that “small arms and heavy weaponry” have proliferated, and there was a recent incident where Rapid Support Forces combatants allegedly looted Aman-Aguak and Mijak counties in Abyei.
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has entered its 19th month, creating what Pobee called a “major source of destabilization in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel regions.” She noted the security, humanitarian, and economic consequences, with Sudan’s neighbors bearing a heavy burden.
The fighting has displaced numerous people into Abyei, further straining resources. "The local population continues to face economic hardship as basic goods and commodities have become scarce," Pobee said, adding that disruptions to supply lines have forced the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to rely on costly alternative routes.
In response to the lack of progress, U.S. representative Robert A. Wood expressed regret, particularly over delays in “determining the final status of Abyei, appointing a civilian deputy head of mission for UNISFA, agreeing on border demarcation, or establishing joint institutions.”
Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva emphasized that “Sudan is in the grip of heightened armed conflict,” while South Sudan faces significant challenges in implementing its revitalized peace agreement. Despite these challenges, Evstigneeva welcomed the two states’ responsiveness to the Abyei situation.
The Sudanese Permanent Representative, Ammar Mohammed Mahmoud, reaffirmed Sudan’s commitment to establishing joint administrative and security arrangements for Abyei, "as temporary measures until we reach a final solution."
South Sudan’s representative, Cecilia A.M. Adeng, reiterated her country’s “commitment to peace and to the peaceful resolution of Abyei’s final status,” acknowledging the sensitivity of the issue and calling for diplomatic efforts for a long-term solution.
