AU concerned by recent incidents in Abyei area

Expressing concern over the recent incidents in Abyei area, the African Union (AU) has called for restraint and for the early convening of the Abyei joint oversight committee.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission, is deeply concerned by the incidents that took place in the Abyei Area in the past few weeks, including killings and abductions, as well as raiding of livestock in various villages, noted AU's statement on Monday.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission urged the Abyei communities to exercise utmost restraint and to desist from any action likely to heighten tension in the Area.

She appealed to the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to make renewed efforts towards the early establishment of the Abyei Police Service, as well as of the administrative bodies agreed to within the framework of the "Temporary Arrangements on the Administration and Security of Abyei of 20 June 2011, in order to prevent such security incidents and effectively manage them when they occur.

Dlamini-Zuma reiterated AU's full support to the United Nations Interim Security Force for the Abyei Area (UNISFA) in its continued efforts to maintain stability, including through engagement with local community leaders.

The Chairperson looks forward to the early convening of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), and praises the efforts being deployed to this end by the AU AJOC Facilitator.

She encouraged the AJOC to seize the opportunity of its planned meeting to agree on the immediate commencement of the inter- communal dialogue.

The Chairperson reaffirmed AU's commitment to continue working with the governments of Sudan and South Sudan, through the AU High- Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), in the search for a lasting solution to the challenges at hand. Endi