Abyei (Sudan & South Sudan): Criminal Threats - Security Council Briefing

Описание: UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said, “it is encouraging that both South Sudan and Sudan have now established national committees on the question of Abyei, and the warming of their relations was visible in Abyei, where most of the threats to the community were of a criminal nature, not of military nature.”

Addressing the Security Council today (27 Oct) via a video link, Lacroix briefed the Council on the situation in Abyei and on the strategic review for the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei, or UNISFA.

He noted that in the implementation of its mandate over the past reporting period, UNISFA successfully continued its work to protect the people of Abyei through its military and mine action presence, support to intercommunal dialogue, women’s participation in political life and the rule of law, and UNISFA’s humanitarian and recovery work reached more than 103,000 vulnerable people.

The peacekeeping chief said, “UNISFA continued to build on this momentum in its engagement with the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan on all matters of relevance to the Mission.”

He added that UNISFA – in close coordination with his team– “also spent significant energy and resources on the complex military and logistical planning that will be required as UNISFA transitions from a single contingent to a multinational peace operation.”

At the request of this Council, Lacroix’s team, jointly with the Office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, the Department of Operational Support and the Department of Safety and Security, conducted in-person consultations with stakeholders in Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia from 18 to 30 June.

He said, “the review team did identify a significant trust deficit that remains between the communities in Abyei, particularly the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka, and noted an important space for UN peacebuilding, humanitarian, recovery and development assistance.”

The peacekeeping chief continued, “the UN continues to prioritize support for this issue, and it is my hope that the Council will provide UNISFA with a continued, and somewhat strengthened, mandate in this particular area - while slowly but steadily identifying areas where the military and security side of the Mission could start preparing for an eventual drawdown.”

With respect to the military side of UNISFA, the strategic review proposes two viable options for the force, Lacroix said.

He explained, “one option would keep overall force numbers close to what they are currently, the second option proposes a lightly reduced troop ceiling, a move that will require more operational adjustments but should encourage Sudan and South Sudan to move forward on outstanding issues with increased urgency.”
Lacroix added, “it is also recommended that the UN establishes a rule of law support strategy. An additional outcome of the strategic review was the need for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism - or JBVMM - to remain as is.”