AT LEAST 26 people have been killed in clashes along the border between Sudan and South Sudan.

The violence erupted at Amiet Common Market in response to separate killings of a Ngok Dinka man on Monday and a Misseriya man on Tuesday, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (Unisfa) said in a statement  on Thursday.

Unisfa said the initial killings had escalated tensions between the two rival communities around the market.

Similar fighting has broken out between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya pastoral communities, often involving grazing lands and watering points for their animals.

The Misseriya, who are Arab pastoralists from Sudan, migrate south into Abyei during the dry season in search of grazing land, sometimes clashing with the Ngok Dinka, the region’s permanent residents.

Lieutenant General Ganesh Kumar Shreshta of Unisfa said: ⁠“We are actively engaging with the leaders of the two communities, who have reiterated their commitment to dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the hostilities.

“Our priority is to prevent further loss of life. We urge all community leaders to embrace dialogue and advance peaceful coexistence.”

Clashes are frequent in Abyei and the region’s status has remained unresolved since South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011.