2013年南苏丹爆发国内冲突和2016年冲突复发使阿卜耶伊问题被搁置。两国国内的困境使得无法就该问题进行讨论，原因不只是双方相互指责，指称对方支持其国内的内部反叛。由于两国之间势力不均，尤其是南苏丹无法推动在这个困难话题上的谈判。两国之间的普遍紧张影响到整个权力链。意在与阿卜耶伊地区临时行政当局打交道的阿卜耶伊联合监督委员会定期开会的频繁和基调反映出这种剑拔弩张的做法。朱巴代表团坚称，监督委员会无权处理联合管理该领土方面的事务。
The eruption of civil conflict in South Sudan in 2013 and again in 2016 has seen the issue of Abyei relegated to the sidelines. The two countries’ internal predicaments have precluded a discussion on this matter, not least because of the mutual recriminations between them regarding allegations of their support for the respective internal insurgencies in their countries. South Sudan, in particular, was not in a position to drive negotiations on this difficult topic, given the imbalance of power between the two countries. The prevailing tensions between the two countries impacted down the chain of authority. The regularity and tone of meetings of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee intended to deal with the interim administration of the Abyei box reflected this combative approach. The Juba delegation insisted that the Oversight Committee was not empowered to deal with matters relating to the joint administration of the territory.