New York/Juba, November 15,2016 (SSNA) — The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted unanimously Tuesday to extend mandate of the peacekeepers operating in the oil-rich Abyei, the Associated Press reports.
The UNSC calls on Sudan and South Sudan to start negotiations on the contested area of Abyei,” warning that failure to find a solution over the disputed zone “constitutes a serious threat to international order.”
The 15-member council also says the vote gives peacekeepers greater role to protect civilians from any imminent threat, adding that the two Sudans must resolve Abyei issue through peaceful means.
The disputed Abyei’s area is one of the contentious issues between Juba and Khartoum. Sometimes the two sides accuse each other of provocation.