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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday extended the mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Abyei, a contested region bordering Sudan and South Sudan, until May 15, 2017.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-nation council also underscored that the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) shall take necessary actions to protect civilians under threat of physical violence.
The UNISFA mission was created by a Security Council resolution on June 27, 2011 in response to concerns about violence, escalating tensions and population displacement in the weeks before South Sudan became independent from Sudan.
According to a report by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the situation of Abyei, the security situation in the area remained unpredictable but generally calm, while UNISFA continued to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the area.
The report also noted that due to intercommunal tension, population movements as well as limited basic public services in Abyei, around 139,000 vulnerable people are in need of humanitarian and recovery assistance.
