Sudan Rejects South Sudan’s Inclusion of Abyei in 2026 Election Constituencies
Sudan has rejected South Sudan’s decision to include the Abyei Administrative Area among the geographical constituencies for the general elections scheduled for 22 December 2026, arguing that the move violates existing agreements governing the disputed territory.
In a statement issued on Monday, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said South Sudan’s National Elections Commission approved 102 geographical constituencies, including 12 constituencies in Warrap State that incorporate the Abyei Administrative Area.
Khartoum said the decision contravenes the 2005 Abyei Protocol under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the 2011 Agreement on Temporary Security and Administrative Arrangements for the Abyei Area, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2046 (2012), which calls on Sudan and South Sudan to negotiate a final settlement on Abyei’s status.
The Sudanese government stressed that these agreements remain the legal framework governing all issues related to Abyei and reaffirmed its commitment to implementing them.
Sudan called on South Sudan to respect its legal obligations and resolve the dispute over Abyei through peaceful negotiations. It also urged the United Nations, regional and international organizations, and countries that witnessed the Abyei agreements to reject what it described as unilateral actions outside the agreed legal framework.
Despite its objection, Khartoum reiterated its commitment to maintaining good-neighbourly relations with South Sudan while affirming that it would continue to safeguard what it described as its legal rights regarding Abyei.
The Abyei Administrative Area remains one of the most sensitive unresolved issues between Sudan and South Sudan. Although South Sudan administers much of the area, its final status has yet to be determined through negotiations as provided for in previous bilateral agreements.
