Map showing Warrap State and Abyei Administrative Area. (Photo: Courtesy).

Warrap state government and Abyei civil society organization have condemned Monday’s cross-border attacks in which dozens of soldiers including civilians were reported killed in the restive region.

On Monday, November 10, 2023, authorities in Warrap and Abyei Civil Society Organization issued separate statements accusing each side of cross-border attacks.

The statement by authorities in Warrap alleged that armed youth from Abyei Administrative Area attacked a military barrack in Twic resulting in the death of 36 soldiers, three women, and three children.

According to Warrap Information Minister, the incident occurred on November 13^th at around 4:00 pm north of Mayen Abun in Twic County.

William Wol said the attack was the fourth of its kind.

“On behalf of the Warrap state government, we condemned the deadly attack by the suspected armed youth from Abyei on the 13th at 4 pm in the SSPDF barrack in the northern direction of Mayian-Abon in Twic county,” Wol told Eye Radio in an interview on Wednesday.

“In the incident, 32 people were confirmed that have been killed including 3 women and 3 children, and also 36 people were wounded in the attack,” he said.

“This is the fourth time that the armed youth of Abyei attacking the SSPDF barrack was meant to protect both civilians in the area of Twic and Abyei.”

Meanwhile, in a press release issued by Abyei Civil Society, the armed militia of Titweng attacked civilians in Athony, Malual –Aleu and Kadhian villages in Abyei in date on November 13.

This, it says, resulted in the killing of 2 people and wounding of 7 others.

The Civil Society Organization condemned the continuation of attacks on Ngok Dinka areas by armed Twic youth.

Miyen Ayuong, the secretary of Information for the Abyei Civil Society Organization called on the government to exert more pressure on UNISFA to adhere to its mandate.

“On 13th November at around 3:00 AM, Twic’s armed militia Titweng attacked innocent civilians in Athony, Malual – Aleu and Khadian villages in the Abyei administrative area,” said Ayuong.

“This attack resulted in the killing of 2 persons, while the other 7 people sustained serious injuries. Abyei Civil Society Organization condemns in the strongest terms possible the continuation of the attack on Ngok Dinka areas by Twic armed youth,” he said.

“We demand the South Sudan government to put maximum pressure on UNISFA to adhere to its mandate and make Abyei box free of any unauthorized armed forces.”

Both reported incidents came a day before the UN Security extended the mandate of UNISFA for another year on Tuesday.

After the adoption, the Security Council reiterated that the Abyei area should be demilitarized from any forces, including armed elements of the local communities, other than UNISFA and the Abyei Police Service.