Amid a resurgence of violence and intercommunal attacks, Sudan and South Sudan must continue their political engagement for implementing security and administrative arrangements in Abyei, and achieving an acceptable solution on the final status of the Area, speakers told the Security Council today, as it also looked towards a renewal of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) mandate and the mission’s support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism before they expire on 15 November.
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, recalled the agreement earlier in the week between Sudan and South Sudan officials to enhance cooperation in addressing those issues, as well as their willingness to resume the meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, which had not met since 2017. Noting the African Union’s various efforts, she welcomed the African Union High-level Implementation Panel’s effort to engage the local communities. UNISFA stands ready to support the shared objectives for Abyei, she affirmed, detailing its work with communities and leaders in Khartoum and Juba in that regard.
Although the security situation in the Abyei area remains mostly calm, a new conflict is emerging between the Dinka Ngoc and Twic communities in southern Abyei, she said, pointing out that much of the intercommunal violence there has related to that conflict with loss of lives on both sides and the displacement of thousands of civilians. UNISFA has intensified patrols to deter further violence, offering protection to those displaced and providing medical services. Clashes recently resumed after a lull in violence during the rainy season, she noted, warning that the upcoming dry season with improved conditions for mobility could bring further violence.
She reported that the reconfiguration of UNISFA into a multinational peacekeeping force continues and is near completion with 2,567 military personnel out of the authorized 3,250 personnel in place. Turning to the mission’s support for the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, she called on Juba to ensure re-operationalization of the Mechanism’s sites as soon as possible. During the reporting period, there was also no progress on deployment of three formed police units and individual police officers due to continued non-issuance of visas, she said, calling for the Council’s support in that regard.
Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa, briefing the Council on progress in implementing resolution 2046 (2012), said that while Sudan and South Sudan have improved relations, through regular bilateral meetings, each country’s priority are on domestic issues. In Sudan, the parties are yet to agree on the way forward to restore a democratic transition after the coup of 25 October 2021; in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, the stalemate in talks between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu has persisted; while some progress was registered in the peace process in South Sudan, with the graduation of forces on 30 August.
Detailing her Office’s efforts to find a way out of the stalemate on the settlement of the final status, she pointed out that: “Meaningful progress in the negotiations appears unlikely absent the prior agreement on the restoration of a civilian led transitional Government in Khartoum.” Her Office will continue to engage with the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) towards fully normalizing relations between both countries.
In the ensuing debate, speakers welcomed positive steps in relations between Khartoum and Juba. They voiced concern, however, about the recent acts of violence between the Dinka Ngok and Twic communities and called on parties to cease hostilities. Many Council members expressed support for a one-year extension of UNISFA’s mandate and called on stakeholders’ strengthened engagement and dialogue to facilitate the work of the mission and advance on outstanding issues.
Ghana’s representative, also speaking for Gabon and Kenya, urged the two countries to seek a peaceful settlement on the final status of Abyei as provided in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in 2005. Voicing concern about the resurgence of armed violence and intercommunal attacks in Abyei, he emphasized the need for more broad-based intercommunal dialogues to address grievances and tensions among the communities. Stressing the need to maintain UNISFA’s presence, he urged Sudan and South Sudan to fully cooperate with the mission, including full respect of the status-of-forces agreement.
The representative of the United States pointed out that a one-year extension of UNISFA’s mandate will allow the mission to complete its troop reconfiguration and give it adequate time to receive visas, identify key stakeholders and develop essential relationships required to implement its mandate. Condemning recent acts of violence between the Dinka Ngok and Twic communities, he urged Sudan and South Sudan to facilitate the smooth functioning of all UNISFA bases and the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism’s team sites.
Ireland’s representative stressed: “We cannot let this become a forgotten crisis. Echoing other delegations, he voiced concern about the humanitarian situation as well as ongoing sexual and gender-based violence in Abyei. He joined other delegations in welcoming progress made in the reconfiguration of UNISFA to a multinational force and called on both parties to address outstanding operational issues, such as the issuance of visas and access to Athony airstrip.
South Sudan’s representative said that despite the incomplete deployment of the multinational force and intercommunal clashes leading to greater insecurity, his Government is working tirelessly to address the root causes of the conflict to restore and foster intercommunal harmony between the two communities. He called for the reconfiguration of the MINUSFA force to enable a rapid response to any security situation, as well as an early warning system to prevent and diffuse clashes.
Sudan’s representative underscored the need for the implementation of the political and legal terms of reference, including the interim security agreements concluded in 2012 and the Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, until the two parties reach the solution on its final status. Stressing the interim nature of the mission in Abyei, with specifically agreed on tasks, he called for efforts to to bolster the work of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, and to undertake humanitarian work to consolidate peaceful coexistence.
Source: UN Security Council