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S/RES/2126 (2013)
Security Council Distr.: General
25 November 2013
13-58072 (E)
*1358072*
Resolution 2126 (2013)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 7067th meeting, on
25 November 2013
The Security Council,
Recalling its previous resolutions and its presidential statements on the
situation in Sudan and South Sudan, and in particular, resolutions 1990 (2011), 2024
(2011), 2032 (2011), 2046 (2012), 2047 (2012), 2075 (2012), 2104 (2013), as well
as presidential statements S/PRST/2012/19 and S/… [read more]PRST/2013/14, and the Council’s
press statements of 18 June 2012, 21 September 2012, 28 September 2012, 6 May
2013 and 14 June 2013,
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity,
and territorial integrity of Sudan and South Sudan, and to the purposes and the
principles of the United Nations Charter, and recalling the importance of the
principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference and regional cooperation,
Reiterating that the territorial boundaries of states shall not be altered by force,
and that any territorial disputes shall be settled exclusively by peaceful means,
Affirming the priority it attaches to the full and urgent implementation of all
outstanding issues from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),
Reaffirming its previous resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006),
1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, 1612
(2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), and 2068 (2012) on children and armed conflict,
1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel, and
1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), and 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010) and 2122
(2013) on women peace and security,
Recalling the commitments made by the Government of Sudan and the
Government of South Sudan in the 20 June 2011 Agreement between the
Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement on Temporary
Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei Area, the 29 June
2011 Agreement between the Government of the Sudan and the Government of
Southern Sudan on Border Security and the Joint Political and Security Mechanism
(JPSM), and the 30 July 2011 Agreement on the Border Monitoring Support Mission
between the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan, as well as
the 27 September 2012 Agreements on Cooperation and Security Arrangements, the
JPSM’s 8 March decision, and the Implementation Matrix of 12 March 2013,
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reached by the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan in Addis
Ababa under the auspices of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel
(AUHIP),
Emphasizing the importance of the full participation of women in the
implementation of agreements and in the prevention and resolution of conflict and
peacebuilding more broadly,
Expressing its full support for the efforts of the African Union on the situation
between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, in order to ease
the current tension, facilitate the resumption of negotiations on post-secession
relations and the normalization of their relations, recalling in this regard the AU
Peace and Security Council Communiqués of 24 April 2012, 24 October 2012,
25 January 2013, 7 May 2013, 29 July 2013, 23 September 2013 and 26 October
2013, and Press Statement of 6 November, and the Statement from the Chairperson
of the AU on 28 October 2013,
Welcoming the 5-6 November AUPSC visit to Abyei, and its continued
engagement in seeking a lasting solution so that the communities in Abyei can
coexist peacefully, commending the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan, and
UNISFA for facilitating the visit, strongly regretting the November 5 violent
demonstration and attempted forced entry by some Ngok Dinka at UNISFA’s
headquarters, and welcoming the peaceful resolution to the protest through a
meeting with the AUPSC delegation,
Welcoming the efforts by the Government of Sudan and the Government of
South Sudan to demilitarize the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ), including
the “14 Mile Area”, and to implement the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring
Mechanism (JBVMM), in accordance with Council resolution 2046 and the AU
Peace and Security Council Roadmap of 24 April 2012,
Underlining the importance of establishing and maintaining effective JBVMM
monitoring of the SDBZ, including the “14 Mile Area”,
Stressing that both countries will have much to gain if they show restraint and
choose the path of dialogue instead of resorting to violence or provocations,
Welcoming the importance of recent meetings of President Bashir and
President Kiir in continuing dialogue, recalling the UNSC decision in resolution
2046 that the parties must resume immediately negotiations to reach agreement on
Abyei final status under the auspices of the AUHIP, calling upon all parties to
engage constructively in the process mediated by the AUHIP towards final
agreement on the final status of Abyei Area, and stressing that the parties must
immediately implement pending aspects of the 20 June 2011 Agreement, in
particular to resolve the dispute over the Abyei Area Council and immediately
establish the Abyei Area Administration and Abyei Police Service,
Commending the continued assistance provided to the parties by the AUHIP,
including its Chairman President Thabo Mbeki, former Presidents Abdulsalami
Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, the Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Authority
on Development, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, the Special
Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan and South Sudan, Haile Menkerios, and
the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) under the leadership
of Major General Yohannes Tesfamariam,
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Commending the efforts of UNISFA in carrying out its mandate, including by
its ongoing facilitation of peaceful migration throughout the Abyei Area and
expressing its deep appreciation for the work of the troop contributing countries,
Encouraged by the improvements in security and stability in Abyei Area since
the deployment of UNISFA, and determined to prevent the recurrence of violence
against or displacements of civilians and to avert intercommunal conflict,
Expressing its determination that the future status of Abyei shall be resolved
by negotiations between the parties in a manner consistent with the CPA and not by
the unilateral actions of either party,
Deeply concerned by the public administration and rule of law vacuum in the
Abyei Area, due to continued delays in the establishment of the Abyei Area
Administration, Council and Police, including a special unit to deal with particular
issues related to nomadic migration, which are essential to maintain law and order
and prevent intercommunal conflict in Abyei,
Noting with concern the continued threat of intercommunal violence in the
Abyei Area, including the ongoing tensions that prevent UNISFA’s and other
agencies’ Sudanese staff from returning to Abyei,
Noting that the continued delay in establishing the temporary institutions and
resolving the final status of Abyei contributes to tension in the region, emphasizing
the importance of all parties refraining from any unilateral action to aggravate
intercommunal relations within Abyei Area, and expressing concern over what the
AUPSC described in their November 6 press statement as “the decision by the Ngok
Dinka to conduct a unilateral referendum”, in contravention of the agreements
signed between the two sides, and despite the calls for restraint from the
international community, including the United Nations Security Council, AU Peace
and Security Council and Governments of Sudan and South Sudan,
Bearing in mind the importance of coherence of United Nations assistance in
the region,
Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United Nations to sensitize
peacekeeping personnel in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other
communicable diseases in all of its peacekeeping operations,
Stressing the need for effective human rights monitoring, including of any
sexual and gender-based violence and violations and abuses committed against
children, taking note that there have been no developments with regard to the
operationalization of human rights monitoring in the Abyei Area, and reiterating its
concern at the lack of cooperation by the parties with the Secretary-General to this
end,
Stressing the urgency of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to
all affected communities in the Abyei Area,
Affirming the importance of voluntary, safe, orderly return and sustainable
reintegration of displaced persons, and of peaceful and orderly migration cycles
respecting the traditional migratory routes from Sudan to South Sudan through
Abyei, and urging UNISFA to take measures as necessary to ensure security in the
Abyei Area in accordance with its mandate,
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Recognizing the deleterious impact of the proliferation of arms, on the security
of civilians,
Concerned with the residual threat of landmines and explosive remnants of
war in the Abyei Area, which hinders the safe return of displaced persons to their
homes and safe migration,
Recognizing that the current situation in Abyei and along the border between
the Sudan and South Sudan continues to constitute a serious threat to international
peace and security,
Welcoming the steps taken by UNISFA towards the effective implementation of
its mandate, including, inter alia, through conflict prevention, mediation and
deterrence,
1. Decides to extend until 31 May 2014 the mandate of the United Nations
Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) as set out in paragraph 2 of resolution
1990 (2011) and modified by resolution 2024 (2011) and paragraph 1 of resolution
2075 (2012), and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
further decides to extend until 31 May 2014 the mandate of UNISFA as set out in
paragraph 3 of resolution 1990, and determines that for the purposes of paragraph 1
of resolution 2024 (2011), support to the operational activities of the JBVMM shall
include support to the Ad Hoc Committees, as appropriate when so requested by
consensual decisions of these mechanisms, within UNISFA’s operational area and
existing capabilities;
2. Takes note of the deployment in October of the initial group of 117 troops
authorized by resolution 2104 (2013) and urges deployment of the remaining
authorized forces as soon as possible to enable UNISFA to provide required force
protection to the JBVMM and to enable UNISFA to fully support the JBVMM to
conduct extended operations into the SDBZ as soon as possible, and requests the
Secretary-General to keep the Council fully updated on the status of deployment as
part of his regular reporting cycle;
3. Welcomes the continued and effective efforts to fully operationalize the
JBVMM, and calls on the Government of Sudan and the Government of South
Sudan to make timely and effective use of the JBVMM, JPSM, and other agreed
joint mechanisms to ensure the security and transparency of the SDBZ, including
the “14 Mile Area”;
4. Welcomes also the creation of the AU Border Programme Technical Team
(AUBP TT) to determine conclusively the SDBZ centreline on the ground, and
reiterates that the centreline of the SDBZ in no way prejudices the current or future
legal status of the border, ongoing negotiations on the disputed and claimed areas,
and demarcation of the borders, welcoming further both Governments’ commitments
to accept the AUBP TT’s findings;
5. Underscores that UNISFA’s protection of civilians mandate as set out in
paragraph 3 of resolution 1990 (2011) includes taking the necessary actions to
protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, irrespective of the
source of such violence;
6. Welcomes the redeployment of Sudanese military and South Sudanese
military and police personnel from the Abyei Area in compliance with resolution
2046, and reiterates its demand that the Government of Sudan redeploy the Oil
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Police in Diffra from the Abyei Area immediately and without preconditions, and
further reiterates, in accordance with relevant resolutions, in particular resolution
1990 and resolution 2046, 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;
7. Reiterates its demand that Sudan and South Sudan urgently commence
the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration and Council, including by
resolving the deadlock over the composition of the Council, and constitute the
Abyei Police Service, to enable it to take over policing functions throughout the
Abyei Area, including the protection of oil infrastructure, in accordance with their
commitments in the 20 June 2011 Agreement;
8. Urges Sudan and South Sudan to immediately resume the work of the
Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) to ensure steady progress on the
implementation of the 20 June 2011 Agreement, including the implementation of the
AJOC decisions;
9. Supports the AJOC’s May 3 decision on Abyei’s status as a weapons-free
area, underscores the AU Peace and Security Council’s concern in its 7 May 2013
Communiqué over reports that various communities living in Abyei are heavily
armed, recalls that the 20 June 2011 Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the
Administration and Security of the Abyei Area stipulates that Abyei should be a
weapons-free area and that only UNISFA is authorized to carry weapons inside the
area, and likewise urges the two Governments to take all necessary steps to ensure
that Abyei is effectively demilitarized, including through disarmament programmes
as necessary;
10. Requests that UNISFA, consistent with its mandate and within its
existing capabilities, observe, document and report on the movement of weapons
into Abyei and the presence of weapons within Abyei as part of the Secretary-
Generals’ regular reporting cycle;
11. Urges the two Governments immediately to take steps to implement
confidence-building measures among the respective communities in Abyei Area,
including through reconciliation processes at the grassroots level, and strongly urges
all Abyei communities to exercise maximum restraint in all their engagements and
to desist from inflammatory acts or statements that may lead to violent clashes, or
any further unilateral activities;
12. Requests UNISFA to continue its dialogue with the AJOC and with the
Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities on effective strategies and oversight
mechanisms for ensuring full compliance by all relevant parties with Abyei’s status
as a weapons-free area, with a particular priority placed on the urgent elimination of
heavy or crew-served weapons, as well as rocket-propelled grenades, and calls upon
the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan, the AJOC, and the Misseriya and Ngok
Dinka communities to extend full cooperation to UNISFA in this regard;
13. Calls upon all parties to cooperate fully with the findings and
recommendations following the Abyei Area Joint Investigation and Inquiry
Committee’s (AAJIIC’s) investigation into the killing of a UNISFA peacekeeper and
the Ngok Dinka paramount chief;
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14. Expresses its intention to review as appropriate the mandate of UNISFA
for possible reconfiguration of the mission in light of the compliance by Sudan and
South Sudan with the decisions set forth in resolution 2046 and their commitments
as set forth in the Agreements of 20 June, 29 June, 30 July 2011 and 27 September
2012, including the redeployment of all forces from the SDBZ, achieving full
operational capability for the JVBMM, and the Ad Hoc Committees, as well as
completing the full demilitarization of the Abyei Area;
15. Takes note of the Secretary-General’s review of UNISFA’s configuration
in accordance with resolution 2104, and the assessment of the relevant risks and
threats, and the force posture and troop ceiling required for implementation of its
mandate;
16. Calls upon all Member States, in particular Sudan and South Sudan, to
ensure the free, unhindered and expeditious movement to and from Abyei and
throughout the SDBZ of all personnel, as well as equipment, provisions, supplies
and other goods, including vehicles, aircraft, and spare parts, which are for the
exclusive and official use of UNISFA;
17. Renews its call on Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support to the
United Nations, including by promptly issuing visas to military, police and civilian
United Nations personnel, including humanitarian personnel, without prejudice to
their nationality, facilitating basing arrangements and flight clearances, and
providing logistical support, and calls on all parties to fully adhere to their
obligations under the Status of Forces Agreements;
18. Recognizes the absence of critical infrastructure projects affecting
UNISFA peacekeeping personnel, notes the action being taken to address this
situation, and urges the Secretary-General to continue to take the measures available
to him to remediate this situation and better enable UNISFA to implement its
mandate;
19. Demands that the Government of Sudan and the Government of South
Sudan continue to facilitate the deployment of the United Nations Mine Action
Service to ensure JBVMM freedom of movement as well as the identification and
clearance of mines in the Abyei Area and SDBZ;
20. Demands that all parties involved provide humanitarian personnel with
full, safe and unhindered access to civilians in need of assistance and all necessary
facilities for their operations, in accordance with international law, including
applicable international humanitarian law, and United Nations guiding principles of
humanitarian assistance;
21. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that effective human rights
monitoring is carried out, and the results included in his reports to the Council, and
reiterates its call upon the Government of Sudan and the Government of South
Sudan to extend their full cooperation to the Secretary-General to this end, including
by issuing visas to the concerned United Nations personnel;
22. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure
full compliance of UNISFA with the United Nations zero tolerance policy on sexual
exploitation and abuses and to keep the Council informed if cases of such conduct
occur;
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23. Stresses that continued cooperation between the Government of Sudan
and Government of South Sudan is also critical for peace, security and stability and
the future relations between them;
24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to inform the Council of
progress in implementing UNISFA’s mandate in 90-day intervals, and continue to
bring to the Council’s immediate attention any serious violations of the above
referenced agreements;
25. Notes the Secretary-General’s efforts to ensure close cooperation among
United Nations missions in the region, including UNISFA, the United Nations
Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), and the African Union-United
Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), as well as his Special Envoy for
Sudan and South Sudan, and requests him to continue this practice;
26. Decides to remain actively seized of this matter. [^]