Security Council

6699^th Meeting (PM)

Security Council Extends Mandate of Interim Security Force in Abyei

 

for Five Months, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2032 (2011)

 

Demands Governments of Sudan, South Sudan Redeploy All

Military, Police from Abyei ‘Immediately and Without Preconditions’

Demanding that the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan redeploy all remaining military and police personnel from the disputed Abyei Area “immediately and without preconditions”, the Security Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force in that locale, known as UNISFA, for a further five months.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2032 (2011), the Council also demanded that the two countries urgently finalize the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration and Police Service in accordance with previous agreements, urging them to make use of the mechanisms that had been developed to resolve outstanding issues related to the borders and the demilitarized zone.

It called upon them, in addition, to peacefully resolve the status of Abyei as required by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the long Sudanese civil war.

The mandate of the Interim Security Force in Abyei was established in June 2011 by resolution 1990 (2011) to oversee demilitarization of the area and maintain security.  It was expanded by resolution 2024 (2011) to include facilitation of contacts between the parties for border normalization.

In today’s resolution, the Council urged Sudan and South Sudan to cooperate with each other and provide full support to UNISFA, ensuring freedom of movement for its personnel.  It also requested that the two countries facilitate mine-clearance activities.

Also this afternoon, anticipating the possibility that it was the last public meeting of the Council in 2011, Council President Vitaly Churkin of the Russian Federation commended the contributions of the five outgoing temporary Council members — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria — whose two-year terms would end with the month.

The meeting began at 4:05 p.m. and 4:09 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2032 (2011) 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 resolution 1990 (2011) and resolution 2024 (2011),

“Reaffirming its commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity; and to peace, stability and security throughout the region,

“Affirming the priority it attaches to the full and urgent implementation of all outstanding issues from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,

“Reaffirming its previous resolutions 1674 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011) on children and armed conflict, 1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel, and 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), and 1889 (2009) on women peace and security,

“Recalling the commitments made by the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan in the 20 June 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 Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan on Border Security and the Joint Political and Security Mechanism, and the 30 July Agreement on the Border Monitoring Support Mission between the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan,

“Welcoming the 9 October meeting of the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan, and the intentions they expressed to resolve their disputes by peaceful means,

“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,

“Commending the continued assistance provided to the parties by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel and its Chair President Thabo Mbeki, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Haile Menkerios, and Head of Mission for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede Tesfay,

“Noting the continued readiness of the United Nations and the international community to assist the parties in establishing and implementing mutual security arrangements in support of the objectives of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,

“Commending the rapid deployment of UNISFA to the Abyei Area and the efforts of the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia in that regard,

“Urging the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan rapidly to conclude negotiations with the United Nations on a Status of Forces Agreement,

“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,

“Deeply concerned by all acts of violence committed in the Abyei Area against civilians in violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law including the killing and displacement of significant numbers of civilians,

“Stressing the need for effective human rights monitoring,

“Welcoming the meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) on 13 December, which reaffirmed the urgency of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all affected communities in the Abyei area,

“Deeply concerned with the continued presence of military and police personnel from Sudan and South Sudan in the Abyei Area, in violation of the 20 June Agreement, which poses a threat to the safe migration of Misseriya nomads and the return of Ngok Dinka refugees to their homes and prevents UNISFA from implementing fully its mandate,

“Concerned by delays in the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration,

“Noting the lack of progress in establishing the Abyei Police Service, including a special unit to deal with particular issues related to nomadic migration,

“Concerned with delays in the clearance of landmines in the Abyei Area, which hinders the safe return of internally displaced persons to their homes,

“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, and calling upon all parties to engage constructively in negotiations towards the final agreement on the status of Abyei,

“Deeply concerned by the reported build-up of armed forces of Sudan and South Sudan near their mutual border and inflammatory rhetoric from both sides, which increases the risk of direct confrontation between them,

“Recognizing that the current situation in Abyei and along the border between Sudan and South Sudan constitutes a threat to international peace and security,

“1.   Decides to extend, for a period of 5 months, 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 acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the tasks set out in paragraph 3 of resolution 1990(2011);

“2.   Recognizes that UNISFA’s ability to carry out effectively its mandate will depend on the fulfilment by the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan of the commitments agreed between the two parties and with the United Nations;

“3.   Demands that the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan redeploy all remaining military and police personnel from the Abyei Area immediately and without preconditions, and urgently finalize the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration and the Abyei Police Service, in accordance with their commitments in the 20 June Agreement;

“4.   Urges the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan to make use of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism to resolve outstanding issues related to finalization of the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone, the resolution of disputed border areas, border demarcation and the mapping of the border zone;

“5.   Calls on all Member States, in particular Sudan and South Sudan, to ensure the free, unhindered and expeditious movement to and from Abyei and throughout the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone 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;

“6.   Urges the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan to cooperate fully with each other, and provide full support to UNISFA, enabling it to fully implement the mandate;

“7.   Requests the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan to facilitate the deployment of the United Nations Mine Action Service as well as the identification and clearance of mines in the Abyei Area;

“8.   Calls upon the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan urgently to fulfil their commitment under the CPA to resolve peacefully the final status of Abyei, and calls upon them to consider in good faith proposals the African Union High Level Implementation Panel shall make to resolve this matter;

“9.   Urges all parties involved to 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 applicable international humanitarian law;

“10.  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 calls upon the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan to extend their full cooperation to the Secretary-General to this end;

“11.  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;

“12.  Stresses that improved 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;

“13.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue to inform the Council of progress in implementing UNISFA’s mandate in 60 day intervals, and continue to bring to the Council’s immediate attention any serious violations of the above referenced agreements, and to look for and implement ways to strengthen inter-mission cooperation within the region;

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

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For information media • not an official record