UN condemns attack against its convoy in Sudan's disputed Abyei area

[News_Editor]

UN condemns attack against its convoy in Sudan's disputed Abyei area

2011-05-21 02:07:34 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan (UNMIS) on Friday strongly condemned the attack against a convoy of its vehicles in the disputed Abyei area.

The assault took place on Thursday evening in Dokura, about 10 kilometers north of Abyei town. The area in which the attack occurred is controlled by the Southern Sudan Police Services (SSPS).

"It is also a criminal attack against the UN. UNMIS calls on the parties to immediately investigate the incident and take appropriate action against the perpetrators of this deliberate attack," UNMIS said in a press statement

The UN convoy was transporting 200 members of Joint Integrated Units (JIU) of the Sudan Armed Forces to their designated post, as part of the deployment plan under the Kadugli Agreements agreed by all parties.

UNMIS added that the 'criminal attack' constituted a serious breach of previous agreements made between the two parties to the conflict there, the governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan.

The two administrations committed under the Kadugli and Abyei Agreements, signed in January and March respectively, to the total withdrawal of all unauthorized forces from the Abyei area.

Furthermore, Sudan and Southern Sudan vowed to leave the security operations in the Abyei region to the Joint Integrated Units (both military and police units), which are made up of personnel from both sides.

"UNMIS remains ready to continue to assist the parties in the implementation of the Kadugli Agreement and urge them to do everything possible to stay on course in the implementation of this agreement and avoid any actions that could derail it," the UN mission added.

In early May, the Abyei Joint Technical Committee, which is facilitated by UNMIS, agreed to begin the withdrawal of all unauthorized forces and the deployment of the JIU.

The agreements are aimed at ending deadly clashes that have claimed dozens of lives since the start of the year. Violence erupted after the referendum on Abyei's status never took place amid disagreement on voter eligibility.

In July, Southern Sudan will secede from the rest of the country, as a result of a separate referendum held in January. However, both north and south have been disputing over border demarcation and claiming the Abyei area.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-21