Football brings the community together in Abyei

SOUTH SUDAN

A small idea – a multi-day football tournament – made a big difference to locals in Abyei town, Abyei Special Administrative Area, a contested area between South Sudan and Sudan.

The tournament featured 12 teams, including a newly formed MSF team, all playing on one field.

“We were surprised by the number of people from the community who came out to watch each match, especially when the MSF team was playing,” says Abdulrahman Khaleel, MSF project coordinator in Abyei. “The final match was attended by a large audience including the head of local government in Abyei.”

“This kind of activity brings us miles ahead with our efforts to approach the community and youths,” he continues. “I won’t forget the moment when a team member approached me and said: ‘This was a great idea. People are now talking about the tournament, not the war and conflict.’”

MSF has provided medical care in Abyei Special Administrative Area since 1997. Following intercommunal violence in Agok in 2022, with some 70,000 people displaced from their homes, we moved our operations from Agok to Abyei town and Twic county to continue supporting the displaced community.

Support that includes the benefits of communal football in 2023.