Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of Sudan and South Sudan about the case for an urgent political settlement for the disputed region of Abyei.

The Minister of State for the UN and Human Rights raised the issue of intercommunal tensions in the Abyei region with the Sudanese Ambassador to London on 28 January. The UN Security Council made clear in a press statement on 29 January that the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan must provide their full support to the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA). In addition the Security Council called on the AU and UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa to intensify their mediation efforts with the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to achieve a political solution for the status of Abyei. The British Embassy in Khartoum continues to raise this issue with all parties, most recently with senior officials in the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 26 February, to urge the resolution of outstanding issues relating to the effectiveness of UNISFA's mandate in Abyei. Ultimately a political solution to the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan must include a resolution to the status of Abyei; we therefore welcome progress in Sudan peace talks in talks in Juba and the decision to form a Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan on 22 February. Along with our Troika partners (US and Norway) our engagement in both Sudan and South Sudan continues to focus on achieving lasting peace.