STATEMENT BY JEAN-PIERRE LACROIX, UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL
SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFING ON UNISFA
New York
07 MAY 2024
I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), including its support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM). I will use this opportunity to update members on the latest political, security, humanitarian and operational developments in Abyei.
Political progress towards the determination of the final status of Abyei and the resolution of issues related to the border between the Sudan and South Sudan remain stalled since the outbreak of the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in the Sudan in April 2023. Despite the positive engagement demonstrated in the months before the start of the crisis, the ongoing fighting is likely to continue to have a serious impact on the chances for constructive dialogue between the two countries on those topics. Nonetheless, the United Nations continues to monitor the conditions that allow for a resumption of talks and stands ready to support the parties, in close coordination with the African Union, once the parties are in a position to return to the political process. Special Envoy Tetteh will provide members with further updates regarding the political situation in the Sudan and South Sudan, as well as other regional issues.
On the ground in Abyei, UNISFA has continued to prioritize efforts aimed at improving intercommunal relations. We have witnessed a welcome reduction in violence between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities, with only one clash recorded during the reporting period. Amid challenges, such as the Sudan conflict, that have also affected intercommunal relations, UNISFA has been at the forefront of efforts to maintain reconciliation, including working with United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and other partners to facilitate a pre-migration conference between the two communities in Noong, in central Abyei, in December 2023. The conference, which included women and youth representatives, led to an agreement that included mechanisms to monitor and resolve disputes during the seasonal cattle migration. The mission’s continued focus on relations between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities is critical to ensure that progress is sustained.
Simultaneously, clashes between the Ngok Dinka and Twic Dinka communities increased, as tensions related to the ownership of the land in Abyei south of the Kiir River continued to have an impact on the security situation. The attacks and reprisals in southern Abyei, which led to significant loss of life earlier in the reporting period, have tapered off in recent months. However, tensions remain high, and UNISFA continues to be on alert to protect civilians should clashes recur. We urge the Government of South Sudan to strengthen its engagement with the relevant communities so that further violence can be prevented.
We are deeply concerned about the presence of South Sudanese security forces in southern Abyei since October 2022, including additional troop deployments of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), which took place in late March and early April of this year. That presence is in violation of the 2011 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement on temporary arrangements for the administration and security of the Abyei Area and of the relevant Security Council resolutions. The presence of the SSPDF has caused fear and has led to repeated violations of UNISFA’s freedom of movement, thereby limiting the latter’s ability to implement its protection-of-civilians mandate. If left unaddressed, the presence of the SSPDF in Abyei may fuel tensions in a region that is already faced with deep political divisions. We call on the Government of South Sudan to withdraw all security personnel from the Abyei Area as soon as possible and to ensure full freedom of movement for UNISFA, in line with the status-of-forces agreement.
Also of concern were the series of clashes, primarily between Ngok Dinka and Nuer community members, in southern and central Abyei in January and February, which resulted in significant civilian casualties. During that period, UNISFA moved proactively to protect civilians, increasing patrols and sheltering community members who had sought refuge at the mission’s bases. Last Friday, the mission reported that several Misseriya and Nuer were killed during cattle rustling incidents south of Rumamier, in southern Abyei. Over the weekend, UNISFA held a meeting with Misseriya, Nuer and Ngok Dinka representatives to extend support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. With tensions running high, political support for dialogue between the Nuer and other communities in Abyei is critical.
During the response to the clashes of late January and early February, two of our peacekeeping colleagues lost their lives. We strongly condemn the attacks that led to their deaths and express our most sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Peacekeeper safety remains a top priority for the United Nations, and investigations by boards of inquiry are ongoing into those incidents. We reiterate the Secretary-General’s call upon the relevant authorities to investigate those responsible and hold them to account, in line with the status-of-forces agreement.
The humanitarian situation in Abyei remained difficult, with communities facing challenges in acquiring essential services and commodities, and continued inflows of people displaced by the conflict in the Sudan. United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and their partners have continued to provide support to those in need, even as their operations have been affected by the volatile security situation associated with continued intercommunal violence. Four off-duty humanitarian personnel were killed during the uptick in clashes in late January and early February, and roughly 20,000 people in Abyei are estimated to have been displaced during that period. We express our deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
Despite delays associated with the conflict in the Sudan, the reconfiguration of UNISFA into a United Nations multinational peacekeeping force is expected to be completed before the onset of the upcoming rainy season. As of 1 May, all contingents of military personnel have been deployed and the remaining contingent-owned equipment is en route. Owing to the crisis in the Sudan, all cargo movements must enter Abyei via South Sudan. We call on the Government of South Sudan to work with UNISFA and other United Nations presences to facilitate the smooth passage of cargo, including the removal of recently imposed taxes and levies, which have seriously affected their operations.
The fighting in the Sudan continues to affect the operations and resupply of JBVMM headquarters in Kadugli, the Sudan, and its two team sites, where airspace closures have forced aerial monitoring to cease. Nonetheless, ground monitoring from its team sites in Tishwin and Abu Qussa/Wunkur continues. UNISFA also continues to monitor the security situation in the area of Kadugli, where sporadic clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North Abdelaziz Al-Hilu faction and the Sudanese Armed Forces continue to be reported. The JBVMM Sector 1 headquarters in Gok Machar, South Sudan, and its two team sites remain non-operational following the mission’s forced withdrawal in 2021. UNISFA continues to engage with the Government of South Sudan to work to enable the re-establishment of those locations as soon as possible.
We welcome the support of the Government of the Sudan for the deployment of 10 additional individual police officers, meaning that now up to 60 will be present in Abyei. However, that still falls well below the full 148 individual police officers and three formed police units mandated by the Security Council. With the Sudan crisis resulting in the continued movement of displaced people into Abyei and insecurity associated with ongoing intercommunal violence in the box, rule of law support for the people of Abyei remains as important as ever. In the absence of the Abyei police service, the United Nations police support for community-based mechanisms, such as the community protection committees, continues to be vital. To ensure coordinated, whole-of-mission support to the rule of law in the box, the Mission developed a rule-of-law support strategy and its associated action plan in November 2023 after consultation with key stakeholders. The strategy covers responses to serious crime and associated detention by UNISFA and the handover of suspects to the respective authorities, as well as support for on-the-ground dispute resolution, including through the community-based protection and customary justice mechanisms in Abyei. Amid strained relations between communities, the Mission also continues its efforts to promote human rights, including advocacy and the monitoring of violations and abuses.
The United Nations country teams in the Sudan and South Sudan, in coordination with UNISFA, continued the implementation of the Joint Programme of the Resident Coordinators in the Sudan and South Sudan in Abyei projects with the goal of helping to build an environment conducive for peaceful coexistence. Despite some challenges in northern Abyei owing to the Sudan crisis and the limited availability of implementing partners, UNISFA, jointly with United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and national partners, delivered services, training and other support in priority areas, such as health care and gender-based violence prevention.
We want to thank all personnel of UNISFA and the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, along with the acting Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, for their dedication to peace and security in Abyei, especially in the face of additional challenges and uncertainty. We would also like to express our appreciation to the troop- and police-contributing countries for their important contributions in an insecure environment, as well as to the members of the Security Council for their continued support for UNISFA.