The South Sudanese government says it would deploy its forces in the disputed oil-producing region of Abyei, amid concerns over what the unilateral decision would attract from Sudan.
The decision, an official said, aims at curbing rising insecurity in the region.
South Sudan’s Information minister, Michael Makuei said members of cabinet resolved this at a meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir on Friday.
The decision comes barely a week after fresh fighting was reported in the area of Malual-Aleu between Ngok Dinka and Twic, leaving scores injured.
According to reports, the insecurity forced travellers heading to the contested oil-producing area from Wau to turn back.
Makuei, however, said the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) “failed” to secure the lives and properties of citizens in the area.
“Despite their intervention, they could not solve any problem and as such, it is decided that the UNMISS [UN Mission in South Sudan] 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,” he told state-owned television (SSBC) on Friday.
Makuei said cabinet resolved to reinforce the investigation committee tasked 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 further stressed.
In recent months, violence intensified in the contested region despite the presence of the UN peacekeeping mission the disputed oil-producing area.
In recent months, violence intensified in the contested region despite the presence of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNISFA) in the area.
According to authorities in the area, some of the attacks were carried out by the Sudanese Messeriya community. The most recent attack 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.
