Security Council

6827^th Meeting (PM)

Security Council, in Presidential Statement, Condemns Aerial Bombardments,

 

Other Violations by Sudan, South Sudan

 

The Security Council today condemned and called for an immediate halt to aerial bombardments, harbouring or otherwise supporting rebel groups, cross-border military movements and other violations of its resolution 2046 (2012) on the part of Sudan and South Sudan.

In a wide-ranging statement read out by its President, Gérard Araud (France), the 15-member body affirmed its strong commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries.  It demanded that they and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) urgently and in good faith, finalize and implement agreements on all relevant issues set forth in resolution 2046 (2012).

It strongly urged the Government of Sudan to accept the African Union’s November 2011 administrative security map without further delay so as to facilitate establishment of the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone and the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, as called for by the Council.  It regretted the parties’ inability to finalize agreement on the Zone, the Mechanism and other critical issues.

Stressing the urgent need to provide relief supplies in order to avoid any further suffering or loss of life, the Council called on the Sudanese Government and the SPLM-N to fully and faithfully implement their memorandum of understanding to deliver aid as rapidly as possible to affected civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.

It welcomed the progress made by the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan in fulfilling their obligations under the African Union’s road map and Council resolution 2046 (2012) to significantly reduce violence and tension.  The Council also underscored its continuing support for the African Union’s constructive leadership in that process, as further demonstrated by a 3 August communiqué adopted by the regional body’s Peace and Security Council.  The communiqué, on implementation of the road map adopted on 24 April 2012, was transmitted by the Secretary-General for the Council’s review and endorsement in a letter to the Council President dated 13 August 2012 (document S/2012/624).

The Council further called on the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee to speedily finalize establishment of the Abyei Police Service, while underscoring the urgent need also to set up the Abyei Area Administration and Council.  It also encouraged the parties to swiftly finalize and implement their agreement on oil and related financial arrangements so that oil production and transport could resume as soon as possible.

Finally, the Council expressed its sadness at the untimely passing of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, recalling in particular his readiness to deploy 4,200 troops to Abyei through the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

The meeting began at 3:09 p.m. and ended at 3:19 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of Presidential Statement S/PRST/2012/19 reads as follows:

“The Security Council welcomes the progress made by the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan in negotiations under the auspices of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to fulfil their obligations under the African Union's Roadmap and Security Council Resolution 2046.  The Security Council expresses its gratitude to AUHIP Chairman Mbeki and UN Special Envoy Menkerios for their 9 August briefings and for their tireless efforts to broker agreements between the two parties. 

“The Security Council affirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Sudan and South Sudan.  It recalls the importance of the principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference and regional cooperation.

“The Security Council welcomes significant reduction in violence and tension between the two countries.

“The Security Council commends the African Union, including the AUHIP, the Peace and Security Council, and the African Union Commission, for its constructive leadership in this process as further demonstrated by the African Union Peace and Security Council communiqué of August 3, and underscores its continued support for those mediation efforts.  In this respect the Council supports the convening by AUHIP, supported by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Chairperson, of a round of interactions with the parties, including a summit meeting of the two Presidents, to enable them to reach the necessary agreements on all outstanding issues. 

“The Security Council welcomes the fact that Sudan and South Sudan have reached an agreement on oil and related financial arrangements that should help alleviate the sharply deteriorating economic conditions affecting each of them.  The Council encourages the parties to swiftly finalize the details and the signing of the agreement and move forward with transparent implementation of the agreement, in order for production and transportation to resume as soon as possible.

“The Security Council notes the decision by Sudan and South Sudan to constitute a joint delegation to approach various countries and institutions to request financial assistance to address the urgent needs of both countries.  

“The Security Council notes with interest the agreement by the parties to establish a Panel of Experts to provide an authoritative, non-binding opinion on the status of the border, and hopes that this process will facilitate a speedy outcome in accordance with the African Union Roadmap and Resolution 2046.

“The Security Council welcomes the memoranda of understanding reached separately by the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N with the United Nations, African Union, and League of Arab States to enable the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected civilian populations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states in accordance with the tripartite plan proposed by the United Nations, African Union and League of Arab States.  It calls on the Government of Sudan and SPLM-N to fully and faithfully implement its terms to expedite the unhindered delivery of this assistance as rapidly as possible, in accordance with applicable international law, including applicable international humanitarian law and the accepted principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in the provision of humanitarian assistance.  The Security Council stresses the urgency of immediately delivering humanitarian relief supplies to the affected civilian populations, so as to avoid any further suffering or loss of life. 

“The Security Council recalls the 2 August deadline imposed in Resolution 2046 and regrets that the parties have not yet been able to finalize agreements on a number of critical issues, particularly:  the establishment of the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ); the activation of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) and of the Ad Hoc Committee;  resolution of the status of the disputed and claimed border areas and the demarcation of the border; the status of nationals of one country resident in the other; and the temporary security and administrative arrangements for Abyei agreed by the parties on 20 June 2011, as well as agreeing on the final status of Abyei. 

“The Security Council strongly urges the Government of Sudan to accept the African Union administrative and security map of November 2011 without further delay in order to enable the full activation of the SDBZ and the JBVMM as required by the Council, and reiterates that the center line 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 border.  The Security Council commends the Government of South Sudan for its formal acceptance of the African Union map but calls on it to withdraw any forces located to the north of the SDBZ center line. 

“The Security Council expresses serious concern at the 20 July security incident, condemns all violations of Resolution 2046, in particular aerial bombardments, harboring of or support to rebel groups, and cross-border military movements, and demands an immediate halt to such actions.  

“The Security Council acknowledges that the majority of security forces have been withdrawn from Abyei Area by the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan, and reiterates its call on the Government of Sudan to redeploy the Sudanese Oil Police from Abyei without preconditions.  The Security Council further calls on the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) to speedily finalize the establishment of the Abyei Police Service, to enable it to take over policing functions throughout the Abyei Area, including the protection of the oil infrastructure. It also underlines the urgent need for the establishment of an Abyei Area Administration, Council and Police Service, in accordance with the 20 June 2011 agreement, and calls on the parties to reach agreement on these without further delay and to refrain from unilateral actions in this regard.

“The Security Council recalls its decision in Resolution 2046 that the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N extend full cooperation to the AUHIP and the Chair of IGAD to reach a negotiated settlement on the basis of the 28 June 2011 Framework Agreement.

“The Security Council recalls its Resolution 2046 and the African Union Roadmap and demands that Sudan, South Sudan and the SPLM-N urgently and in good faith finalize and fully implement agreements on all relevant issues as specified in Resolution 2046, and in this regard the Council reiterates its intention to take appropriate additional measures under Article 41 of the Charter as necessary.

“The Security Council recalls its Resolution 2046 and reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in consultation with the AUHIP, the Chair of IGAD, and the Chairman of the African Union Commission, to report to the Council by September 2 on the status of negotiations.  The Security Council also looks forward to reviewing the African Union's determinations as indicated in paragraph 18 of the African Union Peace and Security Council communiqué of 3 August and requests in this regard the Secretary General to report to the Council thereafter on the status of negotiations, including detailed proposals on all outstanding issues. 

“The Security Council expresses its sadness at the untimely passing of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.  The Council acknowledges and pays tribute to his tireless efforts as Chair of IGAD in supporting and contributing to the efforts of the AUHIP in realizing its mandate on Sudan and South Sudan.  The Council recalls in particular the readiness of Prime Minister Zenawi to deploy 4,200 Ethiopian troops to Abyei in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei.”

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For information media • not an official record