Sudan has long been in the throes of political instability and civil war. The oil-rich Abyei region is disputed between the two countries and has been plagued by violence. The UN launched the UNISFA mission in 2011 to maintain peace. Bangladeshi peacekeepers play a key role there. Currently, about 2,000 Bangladeshi personnel are engaged in patrols, security and humanitarian assistance. On December 13, a terrorist attack in Abyei killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured eight others. The mission has been ongoing for so long because the political issue in Abyei has not been resolved, trust between the two countries is low, and local armed groups are active.