The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to extend until 15 November 2024 the tasks of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and decided that UNISFA should continue to implement its mandate.
The Security Council said that reaffirming all previous resolutions and Presidential statements concerning the situation in Abyei and along the border between Sudan and South Sudan and underlining the importance of full compliance with and implementation of these and recognizing that the current situation in Abyei and along the border between Sudan and South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security, it decided to extend UNISFA’s mandate by another year.
“The UN Security Council decides to extend until 15 November 2024 the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) as set out in paragraph 2 of resolution 1990 (2011) and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, further decides to extend until 15 November 2024 the tasks of UNISFA as set out in paragraph 3 of resolution 1990 (2011), and further decides that UNISFA should continue to implement that mandate and tasks in accordance with resolutions 2660 (2022), 2630 (2022) and 2609 (2021),” the resolution read.
The Council also decided to extend until 15 November 2024 UNISFA’s mandate modification set forth in resolution 2024 (2011) and paragraph 1 of resolution 2075 (2012), which provides for UNISFA’s support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), and further decides that UNISFA and the Secretary-General should continue to implement that mandate and tasks in accordance with resolutions 2660 (2022), 2630 (2022) and 2609 (2021).
“The UNCS maintains the authorized troop and police ceilings as set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of resolution 2609 (2021) and expresses its intention to remain seized of the 2/2 recommendations in the 17 September 2021 letter of the Secretary-General (S/2021/805),” the UNSC resolved.
The Council also urged the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support for UNISFA in the implementation of its mandate and deployment of UNISFA personnel, including to facilitate the smooth functioning of all UNISFA bases and JBVMM teams sites, in line with their primary responsibility as host states and the Status of Forces Agreements, and further reiterates that the Abyei Area shall be demilitarized from any forces as well as armed elements of the local communities, other than UNISFA and the Abyei Police Service when it is gradually established, and urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan and the local communities to take all necessary steps in this regard.