The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has denied that it ‘evacuated’ Dinka Ngok civilians from the Todach area of Abyei, saying that news of an evacuation was ‘misleading.’

The peacekeeping mission said it was “alarmed by the news report of 17 February aired on Radio Tamazuj indicating the UNISFA evacuated several households from Todach area following clashes in the Area.”

In a press statement dated 19 February, UNISFA added that the report was part of “a trend of deliberate falsehood regarding events and happenings within the Abyei Area.”

However, in the same statement the UN Mission acknowledged that some people had fled from Todach area citing concerns that they might be attacked by Misseriya herders. 

The denial from the UN Mission came after a Radio Tamazuj report citing a community leader Bagat Makuac as saying that families were relocated to Abyei town by UNISFA without notifying the native administration.

“The community leader apparently insinuated that the evacuation followed clashes in the area between Dinka Ngok and Misseriya youths,” reads the UN statement, which adds, “UNISFA would like to state very clearly that the mission did not evacuate any person or person from Todach, neither was there any clash between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya youths in the area.”

The mission explained that their police officers while patrolling the Rumajak area came across some Ngok Dinka youths who informed them that they had fled from Todach on 17 February with their parents for fear of attacks from the Misseriya.

“The youths who said they came on foot stated that their lives were not safe in Todach as the Misseriya were approaching the area and they feared that they might be attacked by the Misseriya – although there are no such substantive indications,” UNISFA stated. The youth also informed the UN police that they are now staying at the Episcopal school in Rumajak.

General repeats accusation

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, one day after the UNISFA statement was released, Gen. Mario Monyluak reiterated the same accusation, saying that despite UNISFA's mandate to protect Abyei citizens in their territory the MIssion instead relocated citizens from their legitimate residences, that is, from northern Abyei to central Abyei.

Monylauk, the head of the Abyei Area administration, further disclosed that citizens feel that UNISFA by so doing has taken the side of Sudan and is therefore not neutral.

Monyluak said in regards to this new development, they demanded an explanation from UNISFA, pointing out that the alleged ‘evacuation’ was not in line with UNISFA's mandate nor with the signed deals. 

The chief also commented on the assassination of Dinka Ngok Paramount Chief Kuol Deng Kuol last year, who was killed while traveling in a UNISFA convoy that was ambushed in northern Abyei.

He remarked that unless they get the results of the investigation committee into the death of the chief, and receive an apology from the Misseriya tribe the bilateral relations between the two communities would not be fruitful.

Misseriya say attacked

Misseriya Arab pastoralists, meanwhile, have accused Dinka Ngok militia of attacking them yesterday in Um Balaiel area, north of Abyei.

According to a community leader in Goli, the attack came after another one 5 February. He claimed that the UNISFA forces stood by without arresting the attackers, criticizing the peacekeepers for having a neutral stance to violations and attacks.

He added that the Misseriya have now gathered to protect themselves against repeated attacks on grazing areas in the demilitarized zone, and also called on the Sudanese government to intervene to protect its citizens.

For its part, UNISFA concluded that it is “fully committed to its mandated task of ensuring that the Abyei Area is free of arms and requests maximum cooperation from all the stake holders. The mission reaffirms its capability and strong will to protect all law-abiding members of the community and strongly condemns irresponsible reporting and misinformation.”

File photo: A Dinka cattle camp in Lakes State