Immediate Displacement After Shoot-out
Nearly one hundred households in Athony Village, Abyei Special Administrative Area, are spending nights under plastic sheets after a sudden shoot-out between Unified VIP protection units last week.
Local authorities report that 99 families hurried to the UNMISS base in neighbouring Kadhian on 6 October 2025, hours after gunfire left fourteen soldiers dead.
Commissioner’s Field Mission
Alal County Commissioner Nyang Doldol Nyang led an inspection mission on Wednesday, sitting with displaced parents and elders beneath a canvas awning.
“Some want to return, others prefer relocation to Amit-Market or Abyei Town,” he told journalists, stressing that any movement will follow community consultation.
Peacekeepers Face Relief Challenge
The Ghanaian peacekeepers guarding Kadhian described the living conditions as ‘extremely difficult’ but pledged to expand shelter and water points while coordinating with the Abyei administration.
Military Spokesperson Downplays Politics
SSPDF spokesperson Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang confirmed that the exchange involved Unified forces from both the government and the SPLM-IO, insisting the spark appears personal, not political.
He hinted at a suspected love triangle, adding that a formal inquiry is required to establish motives and prevent reprisals.
Community Chiefs Seek Quick Solutions
Traditional chiefs accompanying the commissioner urged swift housing solutions, warning that prolonged camp life could inflame local grievances and hinder upcoming seasonal planting.
For now, families await decisions under UN tarpaulins, a reminder of how private disputes can ripple into humanitarian crises in a region still healing from wider national tensions.