54 people murdered in violent situations in Sudan, including Pakistani peacekeepers

Juba: The UN declared on Monday that 54 people had died in fighting between rival communities in disputed land that is claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, including two UN personnel. The UN called for calm.

One of the two troops was Pakistani, according to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abiy (UNISFA). 

Local officials reported that fighting broke out over the weekend in Abyei, a disputed oil-rich territory that lies between the boundaries of the two countries. 

The international "troika" of the US, Britain, and Norway—who have supported South Sudan's independence—stated in a statement on Monday that they were extremely alarmed by the rise in violence in the towns surrounding Abiy in recent months.

"All leaders who have influence with the communities involved and who fail to use it to support peace are neglecting the interests of their people," the Quartet stated. 

"Strongly condemning these attacks against civilians and peacekeepers," the UNISFA declared. As of as now, 52 citizens have died and 64 are reportedly seriously injured, according to local authorities.

According to the report, on Sunday, "while transporting affected civilians from a UNISFA base to a hospital," troops were fired upon. It stated that "four uniformed personnel and one local civilian sustained injuries" in addition to the death of a Pakistani peacekeeper.

A Ghanaian peacekeeper was slain earlier on Saturday, according to UNISFA, which also demanded an inquiry into the violence.

Since South Sudan's independence in 2011, Abyei, which lies between Sudan and South Sudan, has been a volatile region.

The violence, according to Abyei Special Administrative Area Secretary General Rou Manyiel Rou, was caused by a protracted "conflict between (the) Ngok and Twic" communities.

The assaults come after crushings that claimed 32 lives in November of last year, one of whom was a UN peacekeeper.

In November, a regional UN envoy voiced concerns about conflict within Sudan getting closer to the nation's borders with South Sudan and Abyei