UNISFA delegation in Juba. (Photo: UNSFA).

A delegation of the UN Mission in the Abyei region have visited Juba to engage with the South Sudan authorities on addressing the inter-communal violence affecting the area and its neighbors.

The UNISFA delegation reportedly met with First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs from 8th to 11^th January to discuss the situation in the border region.

The visit comes days after the Abyei Civil Society Organizations held a demonstration calling for the removal of UNISFA Force Commander citing his alleged failure to protect civilians.

According to a statement by the UN body, further discussions were also held with the Co-Chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, representatives from the government, UNMISS leadership, and other key stakeholders.

The statement further says the Assistant Head of UNISFA mission expresses his condolence to the Abyei Community for the death of its deputy Chief Administrator and his security escorts, who were killed in an ambush on New Year’s Eve.

President Salva Kiir has recently ordered a cessation of hostilities among communities in the Bahr el Ghazal region, as well as the deployment of force to curtail cross-border attacks.

But violence has since prevailed in what an activist term a blatant disregard of the presidential order.