At least 26 killed in clashes along Sudan-South Sudan border region

UN-interim-security-force-for-Abyei" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="206020" data-entity-type="organization">UN Interim Security Force for Abyei strengthens security on the ground after days of deadly fighting.At least 26 people have been killed and 82 others injured in days of intercommunal fighting in a disputed region on the border between Sudan" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="3169" data-entity-type="location">South Sudan and Sudan.Reporting the death toll on Thursday, the United Nations said it had reinforced its security presence around Abyei town.Recommended Stories list of 2 itemslist 1 of 2Armed raid on cattle camp kills at least 49 in South Sudanlist 2 of 2Ambush in Sudan" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="3169" data-entity-type="location">South Sudan kills peacekeeping troopsend of listClashes are frequent in Abyei, and the region’s status has remained unresolved since Sudan" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="3169" data-entity-type="location">South Sudan gained independence from Sudan and became a nation in 2011.The violence erupted at Amiet Common Market in response to separate killings of a Ngok Dinka man on Monday and a Misseriya man on Tuesday, the UN-interim-security-force-for-Abyei" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="206020" data-entity-type="organization">UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) said in a statement.UNISFA said the initial killings escalated tensions between the two rival communities around the market.Similar fighting has broken out between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya pastoral communities that often involves grazing lands and watering points for their animals.The Misseriya, Arab pastoralists from Sudan, migrate south into Abyei during the dry season in search of grazing land, sometimes clashing with the Ngok Dinka, the region’s permanent residents.⁠”We are actively engaging with the leaders of the two communities who have reiterated their commitment to dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the hostilities,” said Lieutenant General Ganesh Kumar Shreshta of UNISFA.“Our priority is to prevent further loss of life. We urge all community leaders to embrace dialogue and advance peaceful coexistence.”In a statement posted on X on Thursday, UNISFA said, “On the ground, we are taking all measures to protect civilians and prevent retaliation”.The UNISFA force is composed of 3,000 police and soldiers whose mission is to protect civilians.