UN Secretary-General António Guterres has revealed an increased presence of South Sudanese security forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Abyei region, which is disputed between Khartoum and Juba.
This deployment constitutes a violation of the agreement signed by the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in 2011, concerning interim administrative and security arrangements in Abyei.
In early May, Guterres submitted a report to the UN Security Council on the implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), covering the period from October 2, 2024, to April 15, 2025.
The report, obtained by “Sudan Tribune” on Tuesday, stated that “South Sudanese security forces, including no less than 600 soldiers and police personnel, have remained deployed in southern Abyei in violation of the 2011 agreement.”
It noted that this number reflects an increase from the previous reporting period, during which UNISFA issued two verbal notes of protest to the Government of South Sudan regarding the presence of these forces in Abyei.
The mission leadership reiterated the need to withdraw the security forces during meetings with South Sudanese authorities in December 2024, and in February and March 2025.
The report also revealed that the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) had established sites in the Agok area, set up checkpoints at the Atuny–Kueriouj junction, and occupied civilian buildings, including three schools and the Protection Committee Center in Agok.
It emphasized that the occupation of the Protection Committee’s facilities by the military and police hindered the ability of UN police to share the site with the committee and to provide guidance and support, in addition to negatively impacting civilians’ rights to education, livelihood, and healthcare.
The report concluded that the presence of security forces in southern Abyei affects the ability of the interim security force to patrol south of the Atuny junction and to establish an operational base.
