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Sudan and South Sudan - 8772nd Meeting of Security Council
Top Officials Praise Relaunched Political Process, Climate of Mutual Trust, as Delegates Support Call to Extend United Nations Mission Mandate for Six Months
The Governments of Sudan and South Sudan should leverage their burgeoning bilateral rapprochement to make progress on the sensitive issue of the Abyei border region, Security Council members urged today, as senior officials outlined the latest progress and challenges on the ground.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said recent months have been characterized by enhanced collaboration between Sudan and South Sudan. On 3 October, a historic peace agreement was signed in Juba — and facilitated by South Sudan - between Sudan’s Transitional Government and a leading opposition group. The two countries also relaunched a political process, with senior officials meeting to discuss the final status of Abyei and nearby areas. These and other recent developments are outlined in the Secretary‑General’s latest report on the matter (document S/2020/1019).
While welcoming the rapprochement, he cautioned that little progress has been made on the issue of Abyei. Four recent attacks against United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) staff, and four instances of intercommunal violence, were recently recorded. He drew attention to delays in some of the Mission’s operations — including the mandated deployment of 640 police personnel — due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The police contingent stands at only 35 officers, which will inevitably lead to the closure of some of UNISFA’s team sites. Outlining efforts by the Mission and local non-governmental groups to combat the spread of the pandemic, he said no new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Abyei since July.
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, briefed the Council on his just-concluded visit to Sudan, which featured fruitful consultations with Government officials. Noting that the relationship between Sudan and South Sudan continues to strengthen, he said the countries agreed to review all their 2012 cooperation agreements with immediate effect. Bilateral meetings on issues including Abyei were held in Khartoum in September, with an understanding that further talks will take place alternately in both countries. Outlining key elements of the 3 October Juba agreement, he said it covers issues related to governance, security arrangements, land ownership, transitional justice and the return of displaced persons.
“There is a strong will for making the Juba agreement a success,” he said, citing subsequent progress in relaunching commercial river transport and opening crossing points for the free movement of goods and services. Also welcoming the announcement by the United States on 20 October that it intends to remove Sudan from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, he said authorities in both Sudan and South Sudan are confident that outstanding bilateral issues — including the status of Abyei and the situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States — will benefit from their new friendly ties and mutual trust.
Many Council members welcomed that sentiment, expressing their hope that the tide has turned away from violence and political mistrust in the region. However, some voiced concern that intercommunal clashes, as well as attacks on peacekeepers, continue unabated in Abyei. Some speakers echoed the Secretary‑General’s recommendation that the Council vote to renew UNISFA’s mandate for six months upon its expiration on 15 November, while several emphasized the need to enhance its work with a view towards an eventual exit.
Tunisia’s representative — who also spoke on behalf of Niger, South Africa and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — urged Sudan, South Sudan and the Council to capitalize on the current positive dynamism and ensure that peace ultimately extends to the Abyei area. He urged the two countries to continue to foster mutual trust with a view to fully implementing their cooperation agreements and reaching a positive-sum settlement to the final status of Abyei. He also joined other speakers in welcoming the senior-level visits held over the last two months in Juba and Khartoum, as well as the commitment demonstrated by both sides to reinvigorate the peace process.
The representative of the United States echoed those calls for continued progress amid a “drastic improvement” in relations between Sudan and South Sudan. However, he expressed concern that they slow issuance of visas, a lack of police officers and the closure of an important airstrip are undermining stability in Abyei. Looking forward to the Council’s renewal of UNISFA’s mandate, he nevertheless called on members to begin to consider a future that does not require a peacekeeping operation in Abyei. UNISFA’s indefinite operation, particularly with the restrictions placed on it, is untenable. He pledged that the United States will continue to work towards stability in the region, citing the removal of Sudan from its list of States Sponsors of Terrorism as a recognition of progress.
Germany’s representative also urged the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to take advantage of the current momentum — as well as the high level of confidence built between them — to address outstanding issues. While his delegation supports the Secretary-General’s recommendation to extend UNIFSA’s mandate by six months, he warned that there should be no “business as usual”. The Council had sent a clear message that the Mission must adapt, as UNIFSA is not fit for purpose due to the host country’s obstructions. He urged Sudan to issue visas to the Mission’s police personnel, while underlining the need to strengthen its civilian components and deploy human rights experts.
The representative of Sudan told the Council that bilateral relations between his Government and that of South Sudan are indeed progressing steadily. Khartoum has voiced its commitment to resolving the issue of Abyei in that same spirit. Recalling that the 2011 agreement signed between Sudan and South Sudan provides for the creation of local mechanisms to administer the area, he declared: “Sudan has always been ready to adhere to the terms of that agreement.” Turning to UNISFA, he commended the work being carried out by its staff and condemned all attacks against them, while welcoming the mandate extension recommended by the Secretary-General and supported by many Council members.
Also speaking were representatives of the United Kingdom, China, Indonesia (also on behalf of Viet Nam), Estonia, Dominican Republic, France, Belgium and the Russian Federation.
The meeting began at 10:06 a.m. and ended at 11:30 a.m.
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