07.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Abyei: Report on the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in May 2008 (background, outbreak of fighting, killing of civilians, displacement) ("Abandoning Abyei - Destruction and Displacement, May 2008") [ID 24085]

"60,000 people fled during and after fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in the politically disputed town of Abyei in May 2008, in which SAF and SAF supported militia also deliberately killed civilians and carried out massive looting and destruction of the town.

More than half the homes in Abyei were burned to the ground and the market was completely destroyed.

The parties reached an agreement to restore security on June 7, but have been slow to implement it.

Meanwhile tens of thousands of civilians are still internally displaced, and the area remains tense.

Two months after the fighting, the number of civilian fatalities and the circumstances of their deaths are still unknown.

A full and independent investigation into the alleged violations has so far not been possible because SAF forces restricted access to Abyei in the weeks following the fighting.

In addition the National Congress Party (NCP) and the SPLM - the dominant parties in central government and the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) respectively - have made no significant efforts towards establishing accountability for human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) in Abyei.

Displaced people, however, are vocal in their call for accountability.

The political and administrative status of oil-rich Abyei is one of the most contentious outstanding issues in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the 2005 agreement between Khartoum and the SPLM that brought an end to 20 years of civil war.

Abyei, an area populated by ethnically Southern Sudanese Ngok Dinka, and on a seasonal basis by Arab Misseriya cattle-herding nomads, remains a potential flashpoint as Khartoum, GOSS and local communities position themselves ahead of a local referendum scheduled for 2011.

The referendum will decide whether Abyei will join Southern Sudan or will remain part of South Kordofan state (administratively part of the North). [...]

Witnesses who fled from Abyei told Human Rights Watch that SAF soldiers shot civilians as they ran and detained and then arbitrarily killed others.

Their testimony suggests that at least 18 civilians were killed in the fighting.

In the days that followed the fighting, government soldiers and Misseriya militia looted and torched the market and civilian houses in Abyei town.

By May 17 all of the market and more than half the homes in Abyei were completely destroyed, yet the destruction and looting continued into late June.

Soldiers and militia also robbed and severely damaged the compounds and property of UN agencies and NGOs who had been supporting post-conflict reconstruction and humanitarian assistance in Abyei.

Almost the entire population of Abyei fled.

While some 10,000 fled to the north, the rest - some 50,000 people - fled south to Twic County in Southern Sudan.

In mid July they were still living in temporary shacks or crowded into homes with other families."

Document(s): Report
Press Release

29.05.2008 - Source: International Crisis Group

Renewed clashes between Sudanese Armed Forces and Sudan People's Liberation (SPLA) Army in Abyei region; town of Abyei destroyed; thousands of people displaced; most civilians now south of river Kiir ("Abyei Conflict Threatens to Escalate into Full-Scale War"), Autor: allAfrica.com [ID 23347]

Document(s): Open document

27.05.2008 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Failure to allow thousands of Abyei civilians to return home following recent conflict could destabilise other parts of Sudan, the UN has warned ("Fears of more conflict amid Abyei suffering") [ID 23345]

Document(s): Open document

24.05.2008 - Source: ReliefWeb

According to Médecins Sans Frontières, clashes in Abyei could trigger humanitarian crisis; fighting has already displaced 60,000 people ("Sudan: Interview - Abyei clashes trigger humanitarian crisis, says MSF"), Autor: Reuters Foundation [ID 23344]

Document(s): Open document

24.05.2008 - Source: ReliefWeb

Abyei: According to UN, up to 90,000 people could be displaced by fighting between government soldiers and the southern Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) ("Sudan oil region fighting could displace 90,000: UN"), Autor: Agence France-Presse (AFP) [ID 23851]

Document(s): Open document

19.05.2008 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Abyei: Thousands of civilians who were displaced by clashes last week between the Sudanese army and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) are living rough in nearby forests; according to estimations from the UN, 30,000-50,000 people were displaced ("Blame game while thousands remain displaced in Abyei") [ID 23342]

Document(s): Open document

03.03.2008 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Abyei region: Fresh clashes between Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) units and fighters from the Misseriya community have left scores dead ("War of words after scores killed in Abyei") [ID 24333]

Document(s): Open document