Under the dark clouds of neighboring conflicts, Abyei remains a forgotten territory. In this fertile and oil-rich strip of land, nestled between war-torn Sudan and an increasingly unstable South Sudan, the United Nations is trying to prevent an escalation.

On Wednesday, before the Security Council, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Martha Pobee, delivered a straightforward picture in the area: a "stagnant" political process, an increased armed presence, and deepening misery.

"The political process between Sudan and South Sudan on Abyei and border issues remains stalled," she said, adding that the timid signals of dialogue seen since May have not yet produced tangible results.

A territory without peace since secession

Abyei, about 10,000 square kilometers of savannah in the heart of the Nile oil basin, was one of the most flammable hotbeds of the partition of Sudan in 2011. Since then, the area has been monitored by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), which has more than 4,000 Ethiopian, Ghanaian and Pakistani peacekeepers.

But the balance remains fragile. Sudan's collapse into civil war since April 2023 has reignited tensions, while South Sudan's political fragility has continued to hamper any progress.

"I urge both countries to go beyond declarations of intent," Pobee insisted, urging them to "accelerate the implementation of existing agreements" and use the coordination mechanisms created to overcome border disputes.

A mission caught in a vice

On the ground, the UN mission is facing an increasingly complex situation. Elements of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – a paramilitary militia engaged in Sudan's civil war – have infiltrated the northern part of Abyei, setting up illegal checkpoints and fuelling crime.

"UNISFA has had to engage regularly with these armed actors to facilitate their withdrawal and remind them that their presence is contrary to Abyei's demilitarized status," she said.

In the south, it is the South Sudanese Defence Forces that are violating the same principle. In October, a shootout between South Sudanese soldiers killed several soldiers and forced more than 100 civilians to seek refuge in UNISFA bases.

Pobee renewed her "call for the immediate withdrawal of all armed forces and armed actors" from Abyei.

Amiet, market of discord

A symbol of local fragility, the Amiet market, a vast commercial crossroads between the Dinka, Misseriya and Nuer communities, has become a hotbed of tension. The Dinka Ngok, sedentary mostly Christians, claim Abyei as their ancestral land; the Misseriya, Arab Muslim nomads from Kordofan, have been carrying out their seasonal transhumance there for generations; the Nuer, who have settled further south, are being dragged along by the internal recompositions of South Sudan.

While intercommunal violence has declined since the beginning of the year, "the level of crime remains high," she noted. Recent clashes between Dinka Ngok and Nuer have resulted in the displacement of more than 150 people to UN bases.

UNISFA is trying to strengthen the rule of law there, combining military, police and civilian personnel to stabilise the area. But the UN makes no secret of the fact that "the best way to ensure the rule of law" would be the full deployment of formed police units authorized by the Security Council – which always depends on the two governments.

A silent humanitarian crisis

In addition to the precarious security situation, there is humanitarian distress. The conflict in Sudan has caused a new influx of displaced people and a spike in prices. "The increased humanitarian needs in Abyei, combined with the chronic lack of basic services, underscore the importance of the UN's joint programme for Abyei," Pobee warned. But due to a lack of funding, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) suspended its activities in July, and the World Food Programme (WFP) reduced its presence.

The UN is sounding the alarm that the budget cuts imposed on the budget of its peacekeeping mission – 15% for this period – will further diminish UNISFA's ability to protect civilians and support coexistence between communities.

A fragile glimmer of hope

In this gloom, some positive signs remain: the holding of a successful post-migration conference between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya representatives in the spring, and the emergence of an increased role for women in local mediation: 41% of the delegates at the last community meeting.

"The mission's work to promote the rule of law in Abyei is more crucial than ever," the UN official insisted, praising the "tireless efforts" of the mission's soldiers and civilians, despite the restrictions on resources.

In this enclave where the suffering of two states is intertwined, peace hangs by a thread. Abyei, a buffer zone, is still waiting for the promises of 2011 to be revived.