Abyei leader urges Security Council to appoint civilian head of UNISFA

By Awan Achiek

The Deputy Chief Administrator of Abyei Special Administrative Area, Deng Arop Mading, on Wednesday called on the U.N. Security Council to appoint a civilian as head of the United Nations Interim Security Force for the disputed area between South Sudan and Sudan.

“Delay in appointing a civilian head of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei. This has become critical of Your Excellency, because the complicity of mandating UNISFA to be in charge of security of Abyei is something that is not quite received by citizens of Abyei,” Arop said during the 8^th Governor’s Forum in Juba on Wednesday in Juba.

Arop urged the South Sudan government to exert pressure on the Security Council to appoint a civilian to head the peacekeeping mission.

“It has also created a lot of gaps in the security in the area, so appointing a civil head would enhance coordination, physical and economical working relations,” he said.

Arop noted that delayed resolution over the status of the oil-rich Abyei threatens to unravel peace, security and development in the area.

He called for endorsement of the Abyei Community Referendum of the 31st October 2013, adding that the delayed operationalization of Khdian Airport has greatly hindered movement for the population in Abyei.

Sudan and South Sudan have disagreed over control of the Abyei region since a 2005 peace deal ended decades of civil war between Sudan’s north and south. Both Sudan and South Sudan claim ownership of Abyei, whose status was unresolved after South Sudan, became independent from Sudan in 2011.

The Security Council established UNISFA in June 2011 to respond to violence, escalating tensions and population displacement in Abyei.

UNISFA is tasked with monitoring the contested border area and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid.

It is authorized to use force to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in Abyei.