KHARTOUM, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Thursday reiterated its demand to replace the Ethiopian forces within the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
During a meeting held at the Presidential Palace in the capital Khartoum, Sudan's Security and Defense Council discussed the UNISFA's situation and its future.
The council reaffirmed Sudan's firm position regarding the necessity of continuing the mission with multinational forces, without Ethiopia being part of it, said Sudan's Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim Yassin in a statement.
The council expressed concern over "the security violations of military nature and the growing phenomenon of exploitation and use of military uniforms in conducting crimes that threaten social security and peace," the minister said.
He added that the council stressed the need to form a joint force under a unified command, with an appropriate mandate to deal with the violations.
Sudan believes that Ethiopia has failed to help establish peace at the disputed area of Abyei between Sudan and South Sudan.
The UNISFA was established in 2011 by the UN Security Council to monitor the Abyei border. It is mainly composed of Ethiopian forces of around 4,200 troops and 50 police personnel. Later, the size of the forces was increased 5,326, all of whom are from Ethiopia.
The Sudan-Ethiopia relations have been strained by the rising tensions, including deadly skirmishes, along the border between the two countries since September 2020.
Sudan accuses Ethiopian farmers, backed by Ethiopian armed forces, of seizing Sudanese lands in the Fashaga area along the border and cultivating them since 1995. Enditem
