The UN Security Council has approved a two-year extension for its peacekeeping operation in Abyei, a contested region between Sudan and South Sudan where significant oil deposits have fueled ongoing territorial disputes. The renewal of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei received support from 12 council members, while Russia, China, and Pakistan chose not to vote on the American-backed measure.
Future deployment of the roughly 4,000-member force will depend on concrete achievements by both Khartoum and Juba, including creation of a jointly administered police service and complete removal of military forces from the territory under terms first outlined when South Sudan became independent in 2011. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres must deliver an evaluation by August 2026 assessing whether meaningful steps have been taken.
Recurring violence between armed factions and conflicts pitting herding communities against agricultural populations have displaced thousands of residents, while aid organizations struggle to assist in dangerous conditions. The broader Sudanese civil war that erupted in April 2023 has further destabilized the area, complicating peacekeeping efforts in a region where civilian protection remains the mission's central objective.
Future deployment of the roughly 4,000-member force will depend on concrete achievements by both Khartoum and Juba, including creation of a jointly administered police service and complete removal of military forces from the territory under terms first outlined when South Sudan became independent in 2011. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres must deliver an evaluation by August 2026 assessing whether meaningful steps have been taken.
Recurring violence between armed factions and conflicts pitting herding communities against agricultural populations have displaced thousands of residents, while aid organizations struggle to assist in dangerous conditions. The broader Sudanese civil war that erupted in April 2023 has further destabilized the area, complicating peacekeeping efforts in a region where civilian protection remains the mission's central objective.
