South Sudan and Sudan
The two countries are contesting over Abyei, an oil-rich land on the border between the two. The area has been violently contested since South Sudan split from the north in 2011. Analysts say governments of both countries want to possess the land because of its oil. Geographically, Abyei is part of north Sudan, confirmed by the United Nations demarcation border commission in 2012. Politically, the area is highly populated by Ngok Dinkas, and is considered by Southerners as part of South Sudan. When South Sudan gained independence, the governments of Khartoum and Juba did not agree on the border division. This has led the area’s status hanging. A United Nations peacekeeping mission has been monitoring the situation in Abyei since 2011.
