SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Sudan Tribune - Sudan blames UNISFA for Abyei’s bloody violence

24/1/2020: Sudan Tribune - Sudan blames UNISFA for Abyei’s bloody violence

Sudan Tribune reports that Sudan’s sovereign council denounced the “failure| of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNIFSA) in protecting civilians in Abyei after two fatal clashes.

After three were killed in clashes between Dinka Ngok and Misseriya (Arab) tribesmen in Kolom in north-west Abyei on 20 January, Misseriya allegedly retaliated on January 22, by killing 32, wounding 24, abducting 15 children and burning 22 houses. The allegations were made by Dinka Ngok leaders.

Sovereign Council spokesman Mohamed al-Faki said the protection of civilians in Abyei is full responsibility of UNIFSA, “given that the region is disputed and under the umbrella of the UN.”

The head of the Abyei Administration from the South Sudanese side, Kuol Alor, accused the Sudanese army and Misseriya militiamen, supported by the Popular Defence Forces (a militia linked to Omar al-Bashir), of carrying out the attack on the village.