Abyei

Abyei (also spelled Abyēy; ) is a border town currently in the Abyei Area that is disputed by South Sudan and the Sudan. The U.N. estimated the town's population at around 20,000 previous to May 2011 events. The oil-producing and fertile Abyei Area, with Abyei town as its center, is a disputed territorial point of contention in the July 2011 secession of South Sudan process. History 2008 conflict Abyei town was almost completely destroyed in May 2008 when tensions escalated between the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) after the Government of South Sudan appointed an administrator for the region, a move the Messiria objected to.