Security Council

5774^th Meeting (PM)

Security Council, urging parties to meet ‘overdue’ commitments to sudan

peace agreement, extends United Nations mission for six months

 

Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1784 (2007), Members Also Look

To Broaden Deployment with African Union Force in Darfur Region

Urging that the parties in southern Sudan finalize the redeployment of forces, the demarcation of borders and other overdue commitments of their Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Security Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) for six months until 30 April 2008.

Through resolution 1784 (2007), proposed by the United States and adopted unanimously by the 15-member body, the Council conveyed its intention to extend the Mission for further periods after an assessment, requested from the Secretary-General, is conducted on whether any changes were needed in the UNMIS mandate to strengthen the Mission’s ability to facilitate full implementation of the Peace Agreement.

For now, the Council urged the Mission to pay particular attention to the redeployment of forces and the lessening of tensions in the areas of Unity, Upper Nile, South Kordofan, Abyei and Blue Nile, calling on the parties to take steps to reduce tensions in Abyei and to allow UNMIS access to all those areas.

It called on donors to support disarmament, demobilization and reintegration initiatives, along with the Joint Integrated Units that were meant to include both Government troops and those of the former rebels, in order to help reduce tensions.

The Council affirmed the Mission’s role in facilitating support of the United Nations for the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) in the Darfur region, as well as the deployment, in that region, of the hybrid mission to be known as the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

The meeting opened at 3:35 p.m. and closed at 3:40 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1784 (2007) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling all its resolutions and presidential statements concerning the situation in the Sudan,

“Recalling also its previous resolutions 1674 (2006) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, which reaffirms, inter alia, the relevant provisions of the United Nations World Summit Outcome document, 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on children in armed conflict, 1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel, 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security,

“Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity of the Sudan and to the cause of peace,

“Urging the parties to meet their outstanding commitments to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and noting in particular the delay in achieving the full and verified redeployment of forces by 9 July 2007 and urging such redeployment, and the need for further progress in the demarcation of the North-South border and the implementation of the resolution of the Abyei Conflict,

“Recalling the commitment of the international community to support the Comprehensive Peace Agreement process, including through development aid, and calling upon donors to support implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including by putting in place the Oslo Conference pledges of 2005,

“Urging the Government of National Unity to take all necessary steps to prepare for the conduct of free and fair elections, including by committing its share of necessary resources for the conduct of a national census, and further urges the international community to provide technical and material assistance for electoral preparations, including for the national census,

“Welcoming the continuing organized returns of internally displaced persons from Khartoum to Southern Kordofan and Southern Sudan and that of refugees from countries of asylum to Southern Sudan and encouraging the promotion of efforts, including the provision of necessary resources to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and implementing partners, to ensure that such returns are sustainable,

“Commending the work of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (“UNMIS”) in support of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and commending the continued commitment by troop-contributing countries in support of this mission,

“Welcoming the Secretary-General’s appointment of Ashraf Qazi as his special representative for UNMIS and of Ameera Haq as his deputy special representative for humanitarian coordination,

“Reiterating its concern over the restrictions and all the impediments placed on the movements of UNMIS personnel and materiel, and the adverse impact such restrictions and impediments have on UNMIS ability to perform its mandate effectively and on the ability of the humanitarian community to reach affected persons; and calling upon all the parties to abide by its international obligations in this regard, as well as those set out in the Status of Forces Agreement,

“Commending UNMIS efforts in Darfur and its facilitation of United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur’s (UNAMID) assumption of responsibility for peacekeeping in Darfur,

“Recognizing that successful implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is [essential] to resolution of the crisis in Darfur and to sustainable peace and stability in the region; condemning the acts of violence perpetrated by all sides:  and calling for the rapid deployment of the United Nations Light and Heavy Support Packages for the African Union Mission in Sudan, the full deployment of UNAMID and the protection of humanitarian workers,

“Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on Sudan dated 23 October 2007 (S/2007/624) and on children and armed conflict in the Sudan dated 29 August 2007 (S/2007/520), and the report of the Security Council following its June 2007 mission to the Sudan,

“Determining that the situation in the Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of UNMIS until 30 April 2008, with the intention to renew it for further periods;

“2.   Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on the implementation of the mandate of UNMIS, progress on implementation of the CPA, and respect for the ceasefire;

“3.   Stresses the importance of full and expeditious implementation of all elements of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the N’djamena Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement, the Darfur Peace Agreement, and the October 2006 Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement, calls for all the parties to respect their commitments to these agreements without delay;

“4.   Stresses the critical role of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission in overseeing and reporting on implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and calls for the strengthening of the Commission’s autonomy and looks forward to the production of the interim report and recommendations of the Commission in January 2008;

“5.   Calls for all parties to agree immediately to full unrestricted UNMIS monitoring and verification in the Abyei region, without prejudice to the final agreement on the actual borders between the two sides;

“6.   Urges UNMIS to continue its efforts consistent with its mandate to assess progress in redeployment of forces, in particular in the areas of Unity, Upper Nile, South Kordofan, Abyei, and Blue Nile, and to reinforce its ability to assist the parties in reducing tension in areas of potential conflict between them and further urges the parties immediately to speed up efforts towards the completion of redeployment of forces;

“7.   Calls on the parties to take steps to reduce tensions in the Abyei region, including by redeploying their forces away from the disputed 1 January 1956 border and by implementing an Interim Administration and agreeing upon boundaries, and expresses support for UNMIS, consistent with its mandate and in accordance with the CPA, to assist the parties in monitoring such arrangements as they may make in this regard, including by deploying UNMIS personnel to areas from which forces may be withdrawn;

“8.   Recalls UNMIS mandate to liaise with bilateral donors on the formation of Joint Integrated Units (“JIU”), requests UNMIS to come up with a plan of support with the Joint Defence Board and further urges donors to offer support, via UNMIS, to enable the full establishment of JIUs as soon as possible and further urges UNMIS to assist in voluntary disarmament and weapons collection and destruction efforts in implementation of plans under the CPA for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration;

“9.   Urges UNMIS, consistent with its mandate and in coordination with the relevant parties, to increase its support for the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Coordination Council and the Northern and Southern DDR Commissions and further urges donors to respond to calls for assistance from the joint United Nations DDR Unit;

“10.  Recalls UNMIS mandate to provide guidance and technical assistance to support the preparations for the conduct of elections and referenda provided for by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and urges UNMIS to continue its efforts in this regard, including by providing technical and logistical support to the national census, and in coordination with the Government of National Unity and with other relevant United Nations offices;

“11.  Calls for UNMIS to support reconciliation in all its aspects, emphasizing the role of women and civil society and to work with UNDP and other agencies;

“12.  Calls upon the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the communiqué, signed between the United Nations and the Government of National Unity in Khartoum on 28 March 2007 to support, protect, and facilitate all humanitarian operations in the Sudan;

“13.  Recalls UNMIS role in facilitating the deployment of the United Nations Light and Heavy Support Packages for AMIS, and calls upon the Government of National Unity and all other parties to cooperate fully with this deployment, and with the deployment of all components of UNAMID;

“14.  Calls upon the Government of National Unity to cooperate fully with all United Nations operations within its territory in the implementation of their mandates;

“15.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure full compliance in UNMIS with the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preventive action including predeployment awareness training, and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;

“16.  Expresses its readiness to consider a general review of the mandate of UNMIS, and in that connection, requests the Secretary-General, in his next three-month report to the Council, to include:

(a)   An assessment of progress in implementation of plans under the CPA for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and to set out the key points of a strategy for achieving further progress, including benchmarks against which such progress can be measured and, specifically, the role of UNMIS at the various stages of implementation; and

(b)   An assessment of whether any changes to UNMIS mandate may be needed to strengthen its ability to facilitate implementation of the CPA;

“17.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

Background

The Security Council had before it a report on the situation in the Sudan(document S/2007/624), which provides an assessment of the overall situation in the country since the Secretary-General’s August report (document S/2007/500), as well as an update on the activities of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS).  As that Mission’s mandate is due to expire on 31 October, the Secretary-General recommends an extension of 12 months.

According to the Secretary-General, the full implementation of the 2004 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended a 21-year conflict between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) is central to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Sudan.  It also remains critical to long-lasting peace throughout the Sudan.  However, during the period under review, the parties did not make significant progress on the major outstanding issues of implementation of the Agreement.  Those issues include the status of oil-rich Abyei region, demarcation of the 1956 border between northern and southern Sudan, completion of the security arrangements and reparations for elections.

The report states that the relationship between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has been strained by the slow progress in the Agreement’s implementation.  While the overall security situation in the UNMIS area of operations remained generally calm, there was no significant progress in the redeployment of the parties’ armed forces.  The Joint Military Teams have verified that the mobilized strength of the joint/integrated units rose slightly.  On 11 September, the SPLA and the Sudan Armed Forces agreed to hand over security of the Petrodar oil installation at Adar to the local joint integrated unit, monitored by UNMIS.

Full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement remains at the core of sustainable peace in the Sudan and lack of progress in its implementation could have a negative impact on other peace efforts, including the situation in Darfur and eastern Sudan.  In Darfur, the security situation has continued to deteriorate, but preparations continued for peace talks scheduled to start in Libya on 27 October.  UNMIS continued to provide assistance to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) under the support packages, and preparations are under way for deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur.  The pace of implementation of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement accelerated during the reporting period.  Talks between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda are currently in recess to enable both parties to consult their respective stakeholders.

The report further describes actions towards implementation of the Mission’s mandate, addressing issues such as political support and reconciliation; military deployment and activities; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; electoral assistance; police; human rights; rule of law; public information; humanitarian assistance; protection of civilians; returns; mine action; economic recovery and reconstruction; gender; HIV/AIDS; conduct and discipline; and civilian staffing.

The Secretary-General observes that the events of recent months are a “sobering reminder of the fragility of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement implementation process”.  Strengthening the partnership between the NCP and the SPLM is crucial for the Agreement’s implementation.  He called upon the parties to resolve the boundary and Abyei issues promptly, and to refrain from unilateral action that might escalate tensions in the boundary areas.  The Sudan Armed Forces and SPLA should complete their respective redeployments with full transparency.

In the past six months, he says, UNMIS has carried out a comprehensive strategic assessment and structural review.  The needs of the next 18 to 24 months will differ from those of 2005 and the Mission must adapt accordingly.  The Secretary-General will report on progress and findings in his next report.  The foreseen six-year interim period now entered its second phase, during which the focus of the peace process will become increasingly political, while the security environment may be increasingly tenuous.  Moreover, should the parties make progress on key issues of the Agreement in the next few months, as they have pledged to do, they may wish to call upon UNMIS for additional monitoring and support.  The Secretary-General, therefore, recommends a mandate extension of one year.

Continued delays in the nationally-led disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process are a cause of concern, according to the Secretary-General.  Both parties remain fundamentally reluctant to reduce active forces during the interim period.  International stakeholders, including the United Nations, should make a realistic assessment of the prospects for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in the medium term and focus their resources accordingly.

In conclusion, the Secretary-General urges the parties to implement all provisions of the Agreement in the same spirit as it was negotiated.  Some key issues of the Agreement will clearly require political courage and leadership on both sides.  Postponing and delaying implementation will only serve to undermine the very purpose of the Agreement, namely the creation of a peaceful and united Sudan.

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For information media • not an official record