United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said that drone attacks in Abyei, the disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan, last October had added a new and worrying dimension to the security situation in the region. He warned that “the security situation remains fragile.”
Lacroix cautioned that these attacks, together with the tragic violence witnessed at and around Amiet Market on September 15, “underscore how fragile stability in the area remains and reflect the complexity of the environment in which the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) operates.”
Lacroix made these remarks while briefing a UN Security Council meeting on the UN mission and the situation in Abyei.
He said the serious incidents had occurred against the backdrop of a year in which security indicators had generally improved, with the number of recorded security incidents during the reporting period declining by approximately 32% compared with the same period in 2025.
He also noted that the migration season had concluded without any livestock-related violence or fatalities resulting from migration movements.
The UN official explained that UNISFA had continued its efforts to support the strengthening of the rule of law and local peace structures. However, he cautioned that these achievements should not obscure the challenges that remain.
He further pointed out that developments related to the conflict in Sudan, alongside evolving dynamics in South Sudan, are increasingly affecting local dynamics within Abyei.
