UN OKs peacekeeping force in Sudan's Abyei region

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UN OKs peacekeeping force in Sudan's Abyei region

(AFP) – 2 hours ago

UNITED NATIONS — The UN Security Council on Monday ordered a 4,200-strong

Ethiopian peacekeeping force to the disputed Sudanese territory of Abyei in a

bid to douse tensions ahead of southern Sudan's split from the north.

The 15-member council voted unanimously for a resolution setting out a mandate

to monitor the withdrawal of north Sudan troops who occupied Abyei on May 21,

sending more than 100,000 people fleeing to the south.

With fighting also flaring in the neighboring state of South Kordofan, the

action has accentuated tensions ahead of southern Sudan's declaration of

independence on July 9.

Abyei, which sits on the border, is claimed by north and south Sudan. An African

Union-brokered peace accord to demilitarize the territory was reached on June 20

in the Ethiopian capital.

Sudan's UN ambassador Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman said Khartoum's forces would

withdraw as soon as the Ethiopian troops had been deployed.

French UN ambassador Gerard Araud called the force's mandate " robust, "

highlighting that human rights abuse investigations would be allowed.

The resolution also orders the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, or UNISFA,

to protect civilians and to " protect the Abyei area from incursions by

unauthorized elements. "

North and south Sudan fought a two-decade civil war up to 2005 in which two

million people died. A 2005 peace accord, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,

allowed for a referendum in January in which the south voted massively to split

from the north.

Abyei did not take part in the referendum because the two sides could not agree

who should be eligible to vote.

" We need to move on from this interim agreement. There is just two weeks to go

until July 9 and the parties really need to do everything they can to settle the

outstanding issues under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, " said Britain's

deputy UN ambassador Philip Parham.

These include the final status of Abyei and the sharing of oil revenues from

zones which straddle the border and the citizenship of nationals caught on

either side of the border.

" To the extent they remain unresolved the potential for tensions is obviously

that much greater, so the harder they can work, even in the next two weeks, the

less likely there are going to be damaging tensions, " Parham told reporters.

Sudan's President al-Bashir is to join UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and

other international leaders at the south's formal declaration of independence on

July 9, Khartoum's ambassador said.

Ambassadors said there was deep concern about South Kordofan, which is on the

northern side of the border, but where northern troops and their allies are

fighting forces loyal to south.

Misseriya Arab militiamen on Sunday attacked a train carrying south Sudanese

home ahead of the independence declaration, the UN said. One person was killed

and four injured.

Tens of thousands have fled their homes in Kordofan since the fighting erupted

there earlier this month.

Copyright © 2011 AFP.