Nigeria has rejoined the United Nations, UN, peacekeeping operations after pulling out due to insurgency ravaging the country.

Nigeria had in 2013 withdrawn troops from UN missions in Mali and Sudan to beef up security in the country.

Speaking with Reuters then, the U.N. peacekeeping spokesman, Kieran Dwyer, said troops up to two battalions were withdrawn from the missions.

However, a statement on Wednesday by the Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, Major General Benjamin Sawyerr, said Nigeria was inducted back into the UN peacekeeping mission on March 15, 2023.

Speaking during the parade held to commemorate the first anniversary of UNISFA, Sawyerr said despite initial challenges, the force had been able to achieve its mandate by protecting civilians and engaging with the two host governments as well as the host communities to encourage dialogue.

He appreciated the cooperation and collaboration of the local administration and the traditional institutions in forging a peaceful dialogue that would lead to the determination of the final status of Abyei.