The Under Secretary General for Peace Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix and the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Ms. Hanna Tetteh, concluded a two-day visit to Abyei on February 22.

The visit follows the deadly clashes in Abyei on 27 and 28 January, which resulted in significant civilian casualties, the loss of two UN peacekeepers, and the displacement of thousands of civilians. More than 2,000 displaced people sought refuge in UNISFA bases.

The delegation engaged with the Juba-appointed Chief Administrator for Abyei, Ngok Dinka traditional leaders and representatives from Abyei Civil Society to gain valuable insights into the challenges and needs of the local communities.

In Diffra, the delegation met with representatives of the Khartoum-appointed Administration and traditional leaders. They were briefed about the security situation and humanitarian challenges facing the northern part of Abyei due to the impact of the conflict in Sudan. They pledged to work with partners to address the challenges raised.

The visit concluded with a tour of the UNISFA Diffra base, which is hosting IDPS. The delegation evaluated the operational capabilities of the mission and ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting the IDPs.