Members of the Ngok Dinka community in the disputed territory of Abyei staged a peaceful demonstration in front of UNISFA main gate on Thursday.

Bagat Makuec Abiem, a traditional leader of the Ngok Dinka community, told Radio Tamazuj that they submitted to UNISFA Force Commander and Acting Head of Mission a petition against IMDAD Total Site Services Company Limited, a Jordan-based company contracted by UNISFA to provide camp management services.

The traditional leader pointed out that the petition was signed by Ngok Dinka chiefs, women and youth leaders in the area. Chief Bagat added that the community demanded that the company leave Abyei within 72 hours.

He explained that the company had rejected a pay rise request by its employees. Makuec added that the company has been hiring people from Khartoum and Kadugli as labourers instead of locals.

Spokesperson for the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) Daniel Adekera confirmed the peaceful demonstration against the company.

Adekera said the petition contained several accusations against the company including that the company should leave the area of Abyei within 72 hours.

He pointed out that the situation was exacerbated by strong distrust and suspicion about the operations of the company including the recruitment process.

“The allegations seem to be based on misinformation and misunderstanding between the company and the local community which unfortunately could not be resolved despite the efforts by UNISFA to intervene with the view to find a common ground,” he said.

Adekera noted that UNISFA will continue to engage the two parties to find a solution. “To this end, UNISFA's Legal Adviser has been tasked to review certain clauses in the contract that have caused unnecessary apprehension and alarm by the community,” he said.

The UN mission said it is committed to its mandated task of ensuring peace in the area of Abyei.

Sudan and South Sudan are disputing the oil-rich Abyei, an area inhabited by Arab Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities.

In October 2013, the Ngok Dinka community conducted a unilateral popular referendum, in which the vast majority of people voted to join South Sudan. However, neither Sudan nor South Sudan recognized the plebiscite so far.