Sudan: Security Council Renews Mandate of United Nations Force in Abyei,
Calls On Parties to Resume Dialogue Under Oversight Body
30 MAY 2014
DOCUMENT
The Security Council today unanimously voted to renew the mandate of the
United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) for four months,
until 15 October, calling on the communities and Governments of Sudan and
South Sudan to work with the United Nations towards resumed community
dialogue and administration, under the supervision of a joint oversight
body.
In adopting resolution 2156 (2014) under Chapter VII of the United Nations
Charter, and following the Secretary-General's recommendations of 13 May,
the Council welcomed the United Nations strategic review of UNISFA. It
reiterated its demand that Sudan and South Sudan immediately resume the work
of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee to ensure steady progress on the
implementation of the 20 June 2011 Agreement.
Furthermore, it restated its demand that those Governments urgently begin
the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration and Council by resolving
the deadlock over the composition of that council, as well as constitute the
Abyei Police Service, in line with the 2011 Agreement.
The Council further decided to maintain the troops already authorized under
resolution 2104 (2013) deployed, and that the remaining authorized forces
would only be sent when the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring
Mechanism was reactivated. The 15-member body requested the
Secretary-General keep it updated on the status of that issue.
Urging renewed efforts to determine the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone
centreline on the ground, it reiterated that such a line in no way
prejudiced the current or future legal status of the border, ongoing
negotiations on the disputed and claimed areas, and border demarcation.
The Council condemned the presence of Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)/
South Sudan National Police Service armed personnel and Diffra oil police
units deployed in the Abyei area, as well as the repeated entry of Misseriya
militias into the territory. It requested UNISFA to observe, document and
report on the movement and presence of weapons into Abyei. It also urged the
two Governments to take immediate steps to implement confidence-building
measures among the communities in the Abyei Area, including through
grass-roots reconciliation processes.
Hassan Hamid Hassan ( Sudan), speaking after action, said the resolution had
several significant paragraphs about implementing agreements between Sudan
and South Sudan on the Abyei issue. Settlement of the situation required
dialogue. He reaffirmed Sudan's commitment to implement the 20 June 2011
Agreement (on security and administrative provisions) and the 29 June 2011
Agreement (on the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism). Indeed, the
shortest path to solving problems was full implementation of those texts,
especially concerning the establishment of legislative and police services.
"There is no other path but dialogue in order to ensure a settlement of the
dispute," he said, stressing that Sudan would not take any unilateral
measures.
He recalled that the Sudanese army had withdrawn from the Abyei region and
was implementing the road map, which the Council had confirmed through
resolution 2046 (2012). The Secretary-General's report had confirmed Sudan's
respect of such mechanisms. Any new proposals aimed at imposing "hasty
solutions" would have "disastrous" results. In the next four months, he
hoped progress would be achieved in establishing security and administrative
arrangements. In sum, he expressed hope that Sudan's brothers and sisters in
the South would fulfil their obligations under those agreements.
Francis Mading Deng ( South Sudan) said the "best thing going" for the
people of Abyei and the Missiriya neighbours was the presence of UNISFA. The
situation had reached a point where alternative ideas were urgently needed
to overcome the impasse and prevent the crisis from escalating into another
"catastrophic" explosion in the region. The highest priority was to
stabilize the Abyei situation by establishing an effective administration
and ensuring that the Ngok Dinka returned safely to their original areas of
residence to lead secure, productive lives. That required urgent measures to
promote Ngok Dinka-Missiriya dialogue towards durable peace and
reconciliation.
Recognizing that the international community did not approve of the Abyei
community's referendum, he said there was wide acknowledgment that it had
been transparently conducted. Yet, without Sudan's cooperation and support
of regional and international organizations, it had no practical
significance. The Ngok Dinka needed to restore their autonomous
administrative status under internationally guaranteed security
arrangements. The Missiriya had their own autonomous administration within
Sudan's national framework. Such mutually respectful arrangements would
allow the area to stabilize.
The meeting began at 10:10 a.m. and ended at 10:35 a.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 2156 (2014) reads as follows:
"The Security Council,
"Recalling its previous resolutions and its presidential statements on the
situation in Sudan and South Sudan, and in particular, resolutions 1990
(2011), 2024 (2011), 2032 (2011), 2046 (2012), 2047 (2012), 2075 (2012),
2104 (2013), 2126 (2013), as well as presidential statements S/PRST/2012/19
and S/PRST/2013/14, and the Council's press statements of 18 June 2012, 21
September 2012, 28 September 2012, 6 May 2013, 14 June 2013, 14 February
2014 and 17 March 2014,
"Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity
and territorial integrity of Sudan and South Sudan, and to the purposes and
the principles of the United Nations Charter, and recalling the importance
of the principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference and regional
cooperation,
"Reiterating that the territorial boundaries of States shall not be altered
by force, and that any territorial disputes shall be settled exclusively by
peaceful means,
"Affirming the priority it attaches to the full and urgent implementation of
all outstanding issues from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),
"Reaffirming its previous resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006),
1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed
conflict; 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), 2068 (2012), and 2143
(2014) on children and armed conflict; 1502 (2003) on the protection of
humanitarian and United Nations personnel; and 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008),
1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013) and 2122 (2013) on women
peace and security,
"Recalling the commitments made by the Government of Sudan and the
Government of South Sudan in the 20 June 2011 Agreement between the
Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on Temporary
Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei area, the 29
June 2011 Agreement between the Government of the Sudan and the Government
of South Sudan on Border Security and the Joint Political and Security
Mechanism (JPSM), and the 30 July 2011 Agreement on the Border Monitoring
Support Mission between the Government of Sudan and the Government of South
Sudan, as well as the 27 September 2012 Agreements on Cooperation and
Security Arrangements, the JPSM's 8 March 2013 decision, and the
Implementation Matrix of 12 March 2013, reached by the Government of Sudan
and the Government of South Sudan in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the
African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP),
"Emphasizing the importance of the full participation of women in the
implementation of agreements and in the prevention and resolution of
conflict and peacebuilding more broadly,
"Expressing its full support for the efforts of the African Union on the
situation between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, in
order to ease the current tension, facilitate the resumption of negotiations
on post-secession relations and the normalization of their relations,
recalling in this regard the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC)
communiqués of 24 April 2012, 24 October 2012, 25 January 2013, 7 May 2013,
29 July 2013, 23 September 2013, 26 October 2013 and 12 November 2013; the
AUPSC press statement of 6 November 2013; and the statement from the
Chairperson of the AU on 28 October 2013,
"Noting with concern the stalled efforts by the Government of Sudan and the
Government of South Sudan to demilitarize the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone
(SDBZ), including the "14 Mile Area", and to implement the Joint Border
Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), in accordance with Council
resolution 2046 (2012) and the AUPSC road map of 24 April 2012, as a result
of South Sudan's continued disagreement with the location of the SDBZ
centreline and its decision of 22 November 2013 to temporarily suspend its
participation in the JBVMM,
"Underlining the importance of establishing and maintaining effective JBVMM
monitoring of the SDBZ, including the "14 Mile Area",
"Stressing that both countries will have much to gain if they show restraint
and choose the path of dialogue instead of resorting to violence or
provocations,
"Welcoming the importance of recent meetings of President Bashir and
President Salva Kiir in continuing dialogue, recalling the UNSC decision in
resolution 2046 that the parties must resume immediately negotiations to
reach agreement on Abyei final status under the auspices of the AUHIP,
calling upon all parties to engage constructively in the process mediated by
the AUHIP towards final agreement on the final status of Abyei Area, and
stressing that the parties must immediately implement pending aspects of the
20 June 2011 Agreement, in particular to resolve the dispute over the Abyei
Area Council and immediately establish the Abyei Area Administration and
Abyei Police Service,
"Commending the continued assistance provided to the parties by the AUHIP,
including its Chairman President Thabo Mbeki, former Presidents Abdulsalami
Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, the Chairperson of the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, the
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan and South Sudan, Haile
Menkerios, and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)
under the leadership of Lieutenant-General Yohannes Tesfamariam,
"Commending the efforts of UNISFA in carrying out its mandate, including by
its ongoing facilitation of peaceful migration throughout the Abyei Area,
and expressing its deep appreciation for the work of the troop-contributing
countries,
"Noting with concern the current fragility of the security situation in
Abyei Area, acknowledging UNISFA's contribution to enhanced peace and
stability since its deployment, and determined to prevent the recurrence of
violence against or displacements of civilians and to avert intercommunal
conflict,
"Expressing its determination that the future status of Abyei shall be
resolved by negotiations between the parties in a manner consistent with the
CPA and not by the unilateral actions of either party,
"Deeply concerned by the public administration and rule of law vacuum in the
Abyei Area, due to continued delays in the establishment of the Abyei Area
Administration, Council and Police, including a special unit to deal with
particular issues related to nomadic migration, which are essential to
maintain law and order and prevent intercommunal conflict in Abyei,
"Noting with concern the continued threat of intercommunal violence in the
Abyei Area, including the ongoing tensions that prevent UNISFA's and other
agencies' Sudanese staff from returning to Abyei,
"Noting that the continued delay in establishing the temporary institutions
and resolving the final status of Abyei contributes to tension in the
region, emphasizing the importance of all parties refraining from any
unilateral action to aggravate intercommunal relations within Abyei area,
and expressing concern over the continued implications of what the AUPSC
described in their 6 November 2013 press statement as "the decision by the
Ngok Dinka to conduct a unilateral referendum",
"Bearing in mind the importance of coherence of United Nations assistance in
the region,
"Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United Nations to sensitize
peacekeeping personnel in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other
communicable diseases in all of its peacekeeping operations,
"Stressing the need for effective human rights monitoring, including of any
sexual and gender-based violence and violations and abuses committed against
children, taking note that there have been no developments with regard to
the operationalization of human rights monitoring in the Abyei area, and
reiterating its concern at the lack of cooperation by the parties with the
Secretary-General to this end,
"Further stressing the urgency of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian
assistance to all affected communities in the Abyei area,
"Affirming the importance of voluntary, safe, orderly return and sustainable
reintegration of displaced persons, and of peaceful and orderly migration
cycles respecting the traditional migratory routes from Sudan to South Sudan
through Abyei, and urging UNISFA to take measures as necessary to ensure
security in the Abyei area in accordance with its mandate,
"Recalling its resolution 2117 (2013), and expressing grave concern at the
threat to peace and security in Abyei arising from the illicit transfer,
destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,
"Expressing concern with the residual threat of landmines and explosive
remnants of war in the Abyei Area, which hinders the safe return of
displaced persons to their homes and safe migration,
"Welcoming the steps taken by UNISFA towards the effective implementation of
its mandate, including, inter alia, through conflict prevention, mediation
and deterrence,
"Taking note of the 13 May 2014 Secretary-General's report (S/2014/336),
including its assessment that the political and security situation on the
ground has seriously deteriorated and could become untenable during the next
dry season and 2014-2015 migration cycle, and the recommendations contained
therein,
"Recognizing that the current situation in Abyei and along the border
between the Sudan and South Sudan continues to constitute a serious threat
to international peace and security,
"1. Decides to extend until 15 October 2014 the mandate of the United
Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) as set out in paragraph 2
of resolution 1990 (2011) and modified by resolution 2024 (2011) and
paragraph 1 of resolution 2075 (2012), and acting under Chapter VII of the
Charter of the United Nations, further decides to extend until 15 October
2014 the mandate of UNISFA as set out in paragraph 3 of resolution 1990
(2011), and determines that for the purposes of paragraph 1 of resolution
2024 (2011), support to the operational activities of the JBVMM shall
include support to the ad hoc committees, as appropriate when so requested
by consensual decisions of these mechanisms, within UNISFA's operational
area and existing capabilities;
"2. Welcomes the UN's strategic review of UNISFA, and the recommendations in
the 13 May Secretary-General's report of support to the resumption of
community dialogue and administration by the communities under AJOC
supervision; in this regard, calls upon the communities and the Governments
of Sudan and South Sudan to work with the UN towards that goal; and stresses
the importance of support in these efforts from the African Union;
"3. Reiterates its demand that Sudan and South Sudan immediately resume the
work of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) to ensure steady progress
on the implementation of the 20 June 2011 Agreement, including the
implementation of the AJOC decisions;
"4. Further reiterates its demand that Sudan and South Sudan urgently
commence the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration and Council,
including by resolving the deadlock over the composition of the Council, and
constitute the Abyei Police Service, to enable it to take over policing
functions throughout the Abyei Area, including the protection of oil
infrastructure, in accordance with their commitments in the 20 June 2011
Agreement;
"5. Decides to maintain the troops authorized by resolution 2104 (2013)
already deployed, and that the remaining authorized forces will only be
deployed in case of reactivation of the JBVMM, and at the appropriate time
as deemed by the Secretary-General, to enable UNISFA to provide required
force protection to the JBVMM and to enable UNISFA to fully support the
JBVMM to conduct extended operations into the SDBZ as soon as possible, and
requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council fully updated on the
status of deployment as part of his regular reporting cycle;
"6. Expresses concern regarding the stalled efforts to fully operationalize
the JBVMM, as a result of South Sudan's continued disagreement with the
location of the SDBZ centreline and its decision of 22 November 2013 to
temporarily suspend its participation in the JBVMM, and calls upon the
Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan to make timely and
effective use of the JBVMM, JPSM and other agreed joint mechanisms to ensure
the security and transparency of the SDBZ, including the "14 Mile Area";
"7. Urges renewed efforts to determine conclusively the SDBZ centreline on
the ground, and reiterates that the centreline of the SDBZ in no way
prejudices the current or future legal status of the border, ongoing
negotiations on the disputed and claimed areas, and demarcation of the
borders;
"8. Underscores that UNISFA's protection of civilians mandate as set out in
paragraph 3 of resolution 1990 (2011) includes taking the necessary actions
to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence,
irrespective of the source of such violence;
"9. Condemns the presence of SPLA/SSNPS armed personnel and Diffra oil
police units deployed in the Abyei Area, as well as the repeated entry of
Misseriya militias into the territory, and reiterates its demands that
immediately and without preconditions the Government of the Republic of
South Sudan fully redeploy its security service personnel from the Abyei
Area and that the Government of Sudan also redeploy the Oil Police in Diffra
from the Abyei Area, and further reiterates, in accordance with relevant
resolutions, in particular resolution 1990 (2011) and resolution 2046
(2013), that the Abyei Area shall be demilitarized from any forces, as well
as armed elements of the local communities, other than UNISFA and the Abyei
Police Service;
"10. Supports the AJOC's 3 May 2013 decision on Abyei's status as a
weapons-free area, underscores the AUPSC's concern in its 7 May 2013
communiqué over reports that various communities living in Abyei are heavily
armed, recalls that the 20 June 2011 Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for
the Administration and Security of the Abyei Area stipulates that Abyei
should be a weapons-free area and that only UNISFA is authorized to carry
weapons inside the area, and in this regard, urges the two Governments to
take all necessary steps to ensure that Abyei is effectively demilitarized,
including through disarmament programs as necessary;
"11. Requests that UNISFA, consistent with its mandate and within its
existing capabilities, observe, document and report on the movement of
weapons into Abyei and the presence of weapons within Abyei as part of the
Secretary-Generals' regular reporting cycle;
"12. Urges the two Governments immediately to take steps to implement
confidence-building measures among the respective communities in Abyei Area,
including through reconciliation processes at the grass-roots level and
supporting UNISFA in convening a peace conference between the Ngok Dinka and
Misseriya traditional chiefs, and strongly urges all Abyei communities to
exercise maximum restraint in all their engagements and to desist from
inflammatory acts or statements that may lead to violent clashes, or any
further unilateral activities;
"13. Requests UNISFA to continue its dialogue with the AJOC and with the
Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities on effective strategies and oversight
mechanisms for ensuring full compliance by all relevant parties with Abyei's
status as a weapons-free area, with a particular priority placed on the
urgent elimination of heavy or crew-served weapons, as well as
rocket-propelled grenades, and calls upon the Governments of Sudan and South
Sudan, the AJOC, and the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities to extend full
cooperation to UNISFA in this regard;
"14. Calls upon all parties to cooperate fully with the findings and
recommendations following the Abyei Area Joint Investigation and Inquiry
Committee's (AAJIIC) investigation into the killing of a UNISFA peacekeeper
and the Ngok Dinka paramount chief;
"15. Expresses its intention to review as appropriate the mandate of UNISFA
for possible reconfiguration of the mission in light of the compliance by
Sudan and South Sudan with the decisions set forth in resolution 2046 (2013)
and their commitments as set forth in the Agreements of 20 June 2011, 29
June 2011, 30 July 2011 and 27 September 2012, including the redeployment of
all forces from the SDBZ, achieving full operational capability for the
JVBMM, and the ad hoc committees, as well as completing the full
demilitarization of the Abyei area;
"16. Calls upon all Member States, in particular Sudan and South Sudan, to
ensure the free, unhindered and expeditious movement to and from Abyei and
throughout the SDBZ of all personnel, as well as equipment, provisions,
supplies and other goods, including vehicles, aircraft, and spare parts,
which are for the exclusive and official use of UNISFA;
"17. Renews its call upon Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support to
the United Nations, including by promptly issuing visas to military, police
and civilian United Nations personnel, including humanitarian personnel,
without prejudice to their nationality, facilitating basing arrangements and
flight clearances, and providing logistical support, and calls upon all
parties to fully adhere to their obligations under the Status of Forces
Agreements;
"18. Recognizes the absence of critical infrastructure projects affecting
UNISFA peacekeeping personnel, notes the action being taken to address this
situation, and urges the Secretary-General to continue to take the measures
available to him to remediate this situation and better enable UNISFA to
implement its mandate;
"19. Demands that the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan
continue to facilitate the deployment of the United Nations Mine Action
Service to ensure JBVMM freedom of movement as well as the identification
and clearance of mines in the Abyei area and SDBZ;
"20. Further demands that all parties involved provide humanitarian
personnel with full, safe and unhindered access to civilians in need of
assistance and all necessary facilities for their operations, in accordance
with international law, including applicable international humanitarian law,
and United Nations guiding principles of humanitarian assistance;
"21. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that effective human rights
monitoring is carried out, and the results included in his reports to the
Council, and reiterates its call upon the Government of Sudan and the
Government of South Sudan to extend their full cooperation to the
Secretary-General to this end, including by issuing visas to the concerned
United Nations personnel;
"22. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure
full compliance of UNISFA with the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on
sexual exploitation and abuses and to keep the Council informed if cases of
such conduct occur;
"23. Stresses that continued cooperation between the Government of Sudan and
Government of South Sudan is also critical for peace, security and
stability, and the future relations between them;
"24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to inform the Council of
progress in implementing UNISFA's mandate in two written reports, no later
than 30 July 2014 and 30 September 2014 respectively, and continue to bring
to the Council's immediate attention any serious violations of the above
referenced agreements;
"25. Notes the Secretary-General's efforts to ensure close cooperation among
United Nations missions in the region, including UNISFA, the United Nations
Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), and the African
Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), as well as his
Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, and requests him to continue this
practice;
"26. Decides to remain actively seized of this matter."