Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUN / ABYEI UNISFA
Download
There is no media available to download.
Share
STORY: UN / ABYEI UNISFA
TRT: 2:26
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 26 APRIL 2021, NEW YORK CITY
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior
26 APRIL 2021, NEW YORK CITY
2. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council virtual meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“The main political highlight of this reporting period was the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) meeting hosted by the Government of the Sudan on 28-29 October 2020. During the meeting, several important issues were agreed upon, including the establishment of checkpoints in Abyei, the introduction of search and seize operations, the deployment of Joint Military Observer Teams throughout Abyei Area, the need for regular JPSM and AJOC meetings, and the need for progress on Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) and border-related benchmarks.”
4. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council virtual meeting
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“Mr President, the general security situation in the Abyei Area during the reporting period has been relatively calm, albeit volatile and unpredictable. The most prevalent threats to security were shooting incidents and the increased presence of unidentified armed groups. Out of 47 incidents recorded, 23 were attacks on civilians that resulted in five fatalities and serious injuries.”
6. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council virtual meeting
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“I would like to highlight that all parties continue to recognize the usefulness and relevance of UNISFA and recognize that the Mission has also been instrumental in addressing tensions between the Ngok Dinka and the Misseriya communities through community dialogue and reconciliation initiatives, despite operational constraints due to administrative bottlenecks. In view of the above, I would request that the Security Council considers a roll over mandate for UNISFA for six months, until 15 October 2021, in order to give the parties the space to discuss future arrangements and the way forward.”
8. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council virtual meeting
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa, United Nations:
“I urge both Governments to reach a swift and peaceful resolution to these disputes. Such an outcome will have a positive impact on preserving UNISFA’s role in enhancing the security and stability of Abyei and the border area between Sudan and South Sudan.”
10. Multiple screens, participants in Security Council virtual meeting
UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix asked the Security Council to consider a roll over mandate for the UN mission in Abyei (UNISFA) for six months “in order to give the parties the space to discuss future arrangements and the way forward.”
Speaking at a virtual meeting of the Council today (26 Apr), Lacroix the previous six month reporting period was marked by continued rapprochement between the Sudan and South Sudan, which however did not translate into significant improvements on the ground in the Abyei area where the security situation remains tense.
He said, “The main political highlight of this reporting period was the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) meeting hosted by the Government of the Sudan on 28-29 October 2020. During the meeting, several important issues were agreed upon, including the establishment of checkpoints in Abyei, the introduction of search and seize operations, the deployment of Joint Military Observer Teams throughout Abyei Area, the need for regular JPSM and AJOC (Abyei Joint Oversight Committee) meetings, and the need for progress on Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) and border-related benchmarks.”
The peacekeeping chief noted that the general security situation in the Abyei area has been “relatively calm, albeit volatile and unpredictable.” He said the most prevalent threats to security were shooting incidents and the increased presence of unidentified armed groups. He said, “Out of 47 incidents recorded, 23 were attacks on civilians that resulted in five fatalities and serious injuries.” He also noted that the reporting period was marked by violent confrontations between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities.
Lacroix highlighted to the Council that “all parties continue to recognize the usefulness and relevance of UNISFA and recognize that the Mission has also been instrumental in addressing tensions between the Ngok Dinka and the Misseriya communities through community dialogue and reconciliation initiatives, despite operational constraints due to administrative bottlenecks.” He added, “In view of the above, I would request that the Security Council considers a roll over mandate for UNISFA for six months, until 15 October 2021, in order to give the parties the space to discuss future arrangements and the way forward.
UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Parfait Onanga-Anyanga said current regional dynamics in the Horn of Africa, particularly the tense relationships between the Governments of Ethiopia and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam and the border area of al-Fashaga could have a direct impact on the configuration of UNISFA. He urged both Governments to reach a “swift and peaceful resolution to these disputes,” adding that such an outcome would have a “positive impact on preserving UNISFA’s role in enhancing the security and stability of Abyei and the border area between Sudan and South Sudan.”
Onanga-Anyanga said significant progress has been achieved on the resolution of the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states with the signing, on 28 March in Juba, of a Declaration of Principles by the Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council. He stressed that progress achieved so far on this issue and the improvement of bilateral relations between Sudan and South Sudan, should be shielded from risks of deterioration of the regional environment to the extent possible.
