Can Chinese Peacekeepers Make a Difference along Sudan/South Sudan Border?

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 9 February 2026 a commentary titled "Can Chinese Peacekeepers Actually Change Anything in Abyei?" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah.

Abyei is an oil rich region along the Sudan-South Sudan border where the China National Petroleum Corporation has been the major operator.  A UN peacekeeping force (UNISFA) with Chinese participation is stationed there.  The author questions whether the newest Chinese peacekeeping unit assigned to UNISFA will make any difference in the outcome.  

Drones and Foreign Arms Transfers Fuel Sudan's War

 The UN Political and Peacebuilding Office posted on 22 December 2025 remarks titled "ASG Khiari Warns Indiscriminate Drone Strikes and Arms Flows Are Driving Sudan's War."

UN Assistant Secretary General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Khaled Khiari, condemned the use of drones and foreign supply of increasingly sophisticated and deadly weapons to the belligerents in Sudan's civil war.  Calls to end these flows have gone unheeded and there has been no accountability.  

Sudan/South Sudan: Abyei Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheet

 The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and SIPRI published in December 2025 a report titled "Abyei: Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheet."

Abyei's contested status, its weak governance, and elite-driven politics continue to fuel insecurity.  Increasing climate variability undermines food security and livelihood activities, particularly livestock and seasonal pastoralism.  Intensifying seasonal hazards, such as floods, drive displacement and worsen the humanitarian crisis in Abyei.

Reviving Sudan-South Sudan Dialogue on Abyei

 The UN Political and Peace Building Affairs Department posted on 5 November 2025 the remarks by special envoy of the Secretary General for the Horn of Africa Guang Cong to the UN Security Council on Sudan and South Sudan.

The civil war in Sudan is exacerbating the humanitarian situation in the disputed region of Abyei along the Sudan-South Sudan border and has interrupted negotiations for a settlement.  There are recent indications that both Sudan and South Sudan are willing to revive the African Union-led political process regarding Abyei's future.  

Climate-related Security Issues along Sudan-South Sudan Border

 The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published on 23 September 2021 an analysis titled "Abyei Offers Lessons for the Region on Climate-related Security Risks" by Kheira Tarif, Emilie Broek, and Katongo Seyuba.  

The conflict in the Sudan-South Sudan border area of Abyei offers valuable lessons for UN peacekeeping operations on the importance of recognizing and responding to climate-related security risks.  Climate factors complicate the security situation.  

Sudan and South Sudan: Time to Resolve Issue of Abyei

African Arguments published on 21 October 2019 a commentary titled "Abyei: Sudan and South Sudan's New Chance to Solve Old Disputes" by John Prendergast and Brian Adeba.

The status of the Abyei border area has been deadlocked since South Sudan's independence in 2011. Sudan and South Sudan each control parts of Abyei. The authors suggest now is the time for internationally supported mediation to bring this issue to a close.

Keeping the Hotline Open between Sudan and South Sudan

The International Crisis Group published on 13 April 2018 a commentary titled "Keeping the Hotline Open Between Sudan and South Sudan."

A set of cooperation agreements between Sudan and South Sudan has largely held and has formed the basis of their bilateral relations ever since. The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism are largely responsible for this development. The International Crisis Group urges that they remain in place.

Sudan and South Sudan's Merging Conflicts

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 29 January 2015 a report titled "Sudan and South Sudan's Merging Conflicts."  It analyses the cross-border alliances that have formed and argues that strong measures are required by the UN Security Council as well as more strategic engagement by the wider international community in support of mediation efforts by the regional bodies, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the African Union. 

Sudan/South Sudan: Looming Crisis in Abyei

The !Enough Project published on 13 March 2014 an analysis titled "Looming Crisis: Open Wounds in Abyei Increase Risk of New War" by Maiwen Dot Pheot.  The author writes that armed youth and dissatisfied cadres within the South Sudanese army in the area seem to be interested in provoking a confrontation, both with the nomadic Misseriya who graze their animals in Abyei and the Sudanese government. 

UN Peacekeeping Profile for Ethiopia

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Addis Ababa published on 16 November 2013 a profile of Ethiopia's peacekeeping participation in UN operations.  It looks at current contributions and also Ethiopia's historic involvement in peacekeeping.  The author is Solomon Ayele Dersso, who is with the ISS office in Addis Ababa.

Both Sudans Violate Demilitarized Border Zone

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The Enough Project's Satellite Sentinel Project released in September 2013 a new report titled "Continued Violations: Both Sudans Still Violating Demilitarized Border Zone."

The new satellite imagery of the border between Sudan and South Sudan shows that neither government has fulfilled international obligations to demilitarize their shared border.

Sudanese and South Sudanese forces retain military units within the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone, including areas that are subject to border dispute.  Sudan has maintained forces at six locations and South Sudan at ten locations.