Media Home
UN Web TV
UN PhotoSecurity Council
8377th Security Council Meeting: Reports of Secretary-General on Sudan and South Sudan
Ahead of the planned drawdown of the joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur, the head of that mission set out before the Security Council today a concept for continuing international support for the consolidation of stability in that troubled western region of Sudan.
Jeremiah Mamabolo, Joint Representative and Head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), said that particularly important is meeting benchmarks for the mission’s exit, as proposed by the Secretary-General. Also important is a concept for the country team in Sudan “based on a holistic United Nations system collaboration through joint analysis, planning and delivery with the aim of achieving stabilization to avoid relapse into conflict”.
Presenting the latest 90-day report of the Secretary-General on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (document S/2018/912), he said that with the Council’s July adoption of resolution 2429 (2018), UNAMID has embarked in earnest on its reconfiguration and drawdown, while monitoring the impact on security and the protection of civilians. “So far, we have not witnessed any adverse impact,” he added.
He said the concept for country team operations was developed in conversations with the Government of Sudan. The report’s proposed benchmarks for UNAMID’s exit are in accordance with the mission’s redefined priorities of protecting civilians, monitoring and reporting on human rights, facilitating humanitarian assistance, mediating intercommunal conflicts and addressing the root causes of the conflict, as well as mediating to advance the peace process between the Government and non-signatory armed movements.
Recalling that the Secretary-General’s reports of the past several months have indicated a relatively calm security situation, he said, however, that they also note pockets in the Jebel Marra area where armed conflict continues between the Government and rebel forces, as well as low-level intercommunal clashes over land and resources. UNAMID is focusing on efforts to address the root causes of conflict, in collaboration with the Government and the United Nations country team.
Humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance across Darfur despite conflict and limited resources, he continued. Although decreasing, incidents of human rights abuse, including sexual violence, continue, and the focus now must be on building Government capacity to protect civilians, he emphasized. In that context, UNAMID continues its capacity-building efforts in the criminal justice field, and discussions are under way to establish an outpost of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Sudan, he added.
Implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur remains slow, he said, reporting that, in his capacity as Joint Mediator, he continues to engage with the Government and the non-signatory movements. Reiterating appeals for them to finalize their negotiations, he said all efforts to bring the Abdul Wahid Nour faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) into the peace process have so far failed and urged the Council to support stern measures against the leader of that movement.
Council members speaking after the briefing welcomed the overall calm in Darfur but expressed concern over continuing clashes and intercommunal violence. They called for strong international support to help the Government of Sudan address the root causes of conflict.
Most speakers also expressed concern over the lack of progress in the peace process and urged action to encourage progress, with some calling for greater pressure on recalcitrant movements and more international support to assist the Government’s weapons-collection programmes.
Equatorial Guinea’s representative said that the Council, the African Union, the international community and donors should lend greater support to efforts by the Government and UNAMID to end intercommunal violence in Darfur. The Government also needs support to continue its critical weapons-collections programmes, especially in the Jebel Marra area. Calling for the full implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur and complete adherence to the ceasefire agreement by all parties, he urged the Council to consider imposing sanctions against movements that refuse to return to negotiations, especially the group led by Abdul Wahid Nour.
Ethiopia’s delegate pointed out that still-active armed groups have no incentive to pursue peace because their illegal activities in neighbouring States continue to reap a profit. He urged the Council to consider such movements transnational organized criminal groups and to lift the arms embargo in order to enable Sudan to properly protect its borders.
While most speakers supported the Secretary-General’s benchmarks for UNAMID’s exit, Kuwait’s representative cautioned that “Darfur indicators” should be applied only to that specific region and not to all parts of Sudan.
Sudan’s representative said that in concert with his country’s security measures, the main benchmark allowing UNAMID’s exit – an overall improvement in the security and humanitarian situation – has nearly been achieved, and pledged the Government’s continued leadership of the peacebuilding phase in Darfur. To help the Government, he said, Sudan’s partners should fulfil their pledges to support the necessary development and stability efforts without delay. He noted that the rebel group led by Abdul Wahid Nour continues to ignore the will of the international community, and called upon the Council to take action against him. He also asked neighbouring States to prevent the group from threatening the gains already made in Darfur.
Also speaking this morning were representatives of Kazakhstan, Côte d’Ivoire, Peru and Bolivia.
The meeting began at 10:03 a.m. and ended at 11:15 a.m.