(JUBA) – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has restated his government’s firm commitment to maintaining peace and protecting civilians in the contested Abyei region, following a security breach involving armed men from neighbouring Sudan.
A statement released on Wednesday confirmed that an assailant forcibly removed a detainee during an incursion into Abyei, prompting renewed concern over cross border security threats and the fragile nature of peace in the region. The President’s response came after receiving a security briefing from Abyei’s Chief Administrator, Charles Abyei Jok, who noted that the area had experienced relative calm prior to the latest incident.
The President commended local leaders in Abyei for their efforts to restore calm quickly. The incursion, reportedly carried out by armed members of the Misseriya community from Sudan, was addressed promptly, with officials confirming that stability has now returned, particularly in southern parts of Abyei. Communities in those areas are continuing to live peacefully, according to the report.
The presidential statement stressed that the South Sudanese government remains fully committed to the safety of civilians in Abyei, a region that has long been at the centre of a complex dispute between Sudan and South Sudan. The area’s final status has not been resolved since South Sudan became independent in 2011, and it continues to operate without a formally recognised administrative structure.
Infrastructure development in Abyei remains limited, especially in essential sectors like education and healthcare. Despite these challenges, the Amiet market has grown in importance as a cross border economic hub, linking traders from both Sudan and South Sudan. While it brings opportunity, the market has also become a flashpoint for disputes between different communities.
Abyei also serves as a significant corridor for travellers moving between Sudan and South Sudan.