The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Monday renewed for 12 months the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
A statement by the Security Council notes that the unanimous decision after adopting resolution 2660 (2022) would enable UNISFA operating in the disputed area bewtween Sudan and South Sudan to continue implementing its mandate and tasks per the respective resolutions.
It also provides for the Mission’s support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism and that the mission would maintain the authorized troop and police ceilings.
The UNSC further urged the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support to the implementation of UNISFA’s mandate and deployment of its personnel by facilitating the smooth functioning of all UNISFA bases and Joint Border Verification team sites per the status of forces agreements.
The Council reiterated that the Abyei Area shall be demilitarized from any forces, including the armed elements of the local communities, and requested the Secretary-General to continue providing information on the progress in implementing the mission’s mandate.
In May this year, the Council renewed the mandate of the force for six months to expire on Novermber 15.
The UN interim force for the disputed area was set up by the Security Council in June 2011 following tensions between Sudan and South Sudan.