The African Union confirmed on Friday that South Sudan had withdrawn its last police forces from the contested Abyei border region and called on neighboring Sudan to do the same. The withdrawal, which was monitored by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), was in line with a commitment by South Sudan to the AU this month. "The security of Sudanese within the territory is being adequately ensured by UNISFA forces," the AU said in a statement, urging Sudan to take reciprocal measures. The AU noted that a "withdrawal would mark a significant step in the normalization of relations between the two countries and the creation of confidence between them. "
