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7840th Security Council Meeting: Situation in Sudan and South Sudan
Expressing deep concern at the security situation in South Sudan and the possibility of an outright ethnic war, the Security Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to 15 December 2017, strengthening its mandate with additional powers to protect civilians while expressing its intention to consider sanctions against those whose actions undermined peace, stability and security in the country.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2327 (2016), the Council reiterated its increasingly grave alarm and concern regarding the political, security, economic and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan resulting from a political dispute within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and subsequent violence caused by the country’s political and military leaders.
By the text, and acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council demanded that all parties immediately end the fighting throughout South Sudan, and that the country’s leaders implement a permanent ceasefire declared in the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan signed in August 2015.
It demanded that the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan comply with the obligations set out in the Status of Forces Agreement between the Government of South Sudan and the United Nations, and immediately cease obstructing UNMISS in the performance of its mandate. Furthermore, it demanded that the Transitional Government immediately cease obstructing international and national humanitarian actors from assisting civilians.
The Council also authorized UNMISS to use “all necessary means” to protect civilians under threat of physical violence, to deter violence against civilians, to implement a Mission-wide early warning strategy, to maintain public safety and security within UNMISS protection of civilian sites, and to deter and prevent sexual and gender-based violence.
As well, the 15-nation body authorized the Mission to monitor and investigate human rights abuses and violations, create conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and support implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict.
The Council decided to increase the overall force levels of UNMISS by maintaining a troop ceiling of 17,000 troops, including 4,000 for a Regional Protection Force, and increasing the police ceiling to 2,101 police personnel. It authorized the Regional Protection Force to use all necessary means — including robust action where necessary — to accomplish its mandate.
In addition, the Council, while taking note of the Transitional Government’s announcement to conduct an inclusive national dialogue, also expressed its intention to consider “all appropriate measures, as demonstrated in resolutions 2206 (2015) and 2290 (2016), against those who took actions which undermined peace, stability and security in South Sudan. It stressed the sanctity of United Nations protection sites and specifically underscored that those involved in attacks against UNMISS personnel and premises, or any humanitarian personnel, may meet designation criteria set out in resolution 2206 (2015).
South Sudan was being threatened with civil war, warned the representative of the United States, adding that resolution 2327 (2016) urged parties to return to the peace process. It also ensured that the Council would have the possibility to use sanctions. An arms embargo was called for and targeted sanctions would be an effective tool to send a message to leaders on both sides.
However, the representative of the Russian Federation pointed out, the resolution’s sponsors had, once again, not taken on board concerns of the Russian Federation, but instead had wanted to push through sanctions while ignoring the decisions of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) that sanctions were counterproductive.
The representative of South Sudan, while welcoming the renewal and extension of the Mission’s mandate, expressed his disappointment that the Council continued to deliberate on issues of peace and security without adequate consultations with the African region. Rather than negative threats of sanctions and punishment, South Sudan needed a positive and constructive agenda that included the return of security and stability, he stressed.
Also speaking were representatives of China, Egypt, Venezuela, Malaysia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Senegal, Angola, Uruguay and Spain.
The meeting started at 4:04 p.m. and adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
