Resolution 2577 (2021)
Adopted by the Security Council on 28 May 2021
The Security Council,
Recalling its previous resolutions, statements of its President, and press statements on the situation in South Sudan,
Affirming its support for the 2018 “Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan” (the Revitalised Agreement), stressing that the peace process only remains viable with the full commitment by all parties, and welcoming in this regard encouraging developments in implementing the Revitalized Agreement, including reconstituting the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, in order to create the conditions necessary to advance the peace process,
Expressing appreciation for the leadership of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in advancing the peace process in South Sudan, commending the ongoing mediation by the Community of Sant’Egidio to foster political dialogue between signatories and non-signatories of the Revitalised Agreement, and calling on South Sudanese parties to demonstrate the political will to peacefully resolve the outstanding differences that are driving continued violence,
Recognizing the reduction in violence between signatory parties to the Revitalised Agreement and that the permanent ceasefire was upheld in most parts of the country between those parties,
Reiterating its alarm and deep concern regarding the political, security, economic, and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, taking note of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and emphasizing there can be no military solution to the situation in South Sudan,
Expressing deep concern at continued fighting in South Sudan, and condemning repeated violations of the Revitalised Agreement and the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access (ACOH),
Expressing concern regarding the delays in implementing the Revitalised Agreement, and stressing the need to expeditiously finalize security arrangements, establish all institutions of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGNU), and make progress on transitional reforms,
Strongly condemning past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, further condemning harassment and targeting of civil society, humanitarian personnel and journalists, emphasizing that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable, and that the RTGNU bears the primary responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity,
Expressing deep concern at reports of misappropriation of funds that undermine the stability and security of South Sudan, and stressing that these activities can have a devastating impact on society and individuals, weaken democratic institutions, undermine the rule of law, perpetuate violent conflicts, facilitate illegal activities, divert humanitarian assistance or complicate its delivery, and undermine economic markets,
Also expressing grave concern at the threat to peace and security in South Sudan arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,
Strongly encouraging the South Sudan authorities to improve their engagement with the Panel of Experts and prevent any obstruction to the implementation of its mandate,
Taking note of the Final 2021 report (S/2021/365) of the United Nations Panel of Experts,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan arms embargo benchmarks (S/2021/321),
Determining that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
Arms Embargo and Inspections
1. Decides to renew until 31 May 2022 the measures on arms imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 2428 (2018), and reaffirms the provisions of paragraph 5 of resolution 2428 (2018);
2. Expresses its readiness to review arms embargo measures, through inter alia modification, suspension, or progressive lifting of these measures, in the light of progress achieved on the following key benchmarks:
(a) the completion, by the RTGNU, of Stages 1, 2, and 3 of the Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) process contained in the Revitalised Agreement;
(b) the formation, by the RTGNU, of a unified command structure for the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF), the training, graduation, and redeployment of the NUF, and allocation by the RTGNU of adequate resources for the planning and implementation of the redeployment of the NUF;
(c) progress, by the RTGNU, on the establishment and implementation of the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) process, and in particular the development and implementation of a plan for the collection and disposal of long and medium range heavy weapons, and the development of a time-bound plan for the complete and verifiable demilitarization of all civilian areas;
(d) progress by the South Sudanese defense and security forces on properly managing their existing arms and ammunition stockpiles, including by establishing the necessary planning documents, protocols, and training for the recording, storage, distribution and management of the weapons and ammunition;
(e) the implementation of the Joint Action Plan for the Armed Forces on addressing conflict-related sexual violence, with an emphasis on the training, sensitization, accountability, and oversight of the defense and security forces;
3. Calls on the RTGNU to make progress on implementation of public finance management reforms in the Revitalised Agreement, including by making information on all revenues, expenditures, deficits, and debts of the RTGNU accessible to the public; and further calls on the RTGNU to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, and set up the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing and the Compensation and Reparation Authority;
4. Requests in this regard the Secretary-General, in close consultation with UNMISS and the Panel of Experts, to conduct, no later than 15 April 2022, an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks established in paragraph 2;
5. Requests the South Sudan authorities to report, no later than 15 April 2022, to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan (“the Committee”) on the progress achieved on the key benchmarks in paragraph 2, and invites the South Sudan authorities to report on progress achieved on implementation of reforms in paragraph 3;
6. Stresses the importance that notifications or requests for exemptions pursuant to paragraph 5 of resolution 2428 (2018) should contain all relevant information, including the purpose of the use, the end user, the technical specifications and quantity of the equipment to be shipped and, when applicable, the supplier, the proposed date of delivery, mode of transportation and itinerary of shipments;
7. Underscores that arms shipments in violation of this resolution risk fueling conflict and contributing to further instability, and strongly urges all Member States to take urgent action to identify and prevent such shipments within their territory;
8. Calls upon all Member States, in particular States neighboring South Sudan, to inspect, in accordance with their national authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, in particular the law of the sea and relevant international civil aviation agreements, all cargo to South Sudan, in their territory, including seaports and airports, if the State concerned has information that provides reasonable grounds to believe the cargo contains items the supply, sale, or transfer of which is prohibited by paragraph 4 of resolution 2428 (2018) for the purpose of ensuring strict implementation of these provisions;
9. Decides to authorize all Member States to, and that all Member States shall, upon discovery of items the supply, sale, or transfer of which is prohibited by paragraph 4 of resolution 2428 (2018), seize and dispose (such as through destruction, rendering inoperable, storage or transferring to a State other than the originating or destination States for disposal) of such items, and decides further that all Member States shall cooperate in such efforts;
10. Requires any Member State when it undertakes an inspection pursuant to paragraph 7 of this resolution, to submit promptly an initial written report to the Committee containing, in particular, explanation of the grounds for the inspections, the results of such inspections, and whether or not cooperation was provided, and, if prohibited items for supply, sale, or transfer are found, further requires such Member States to submit to the Committee within 30 days a subsequent written report containing relevant details on the inspection, seizure, and disposal, and relevant details of the transfer, including a description of the items, their origin and intended destination, if this information is not in the initial report;
Targeted Sanctions
11. Decides to renew until 31 May 2022 the travel and financial measures imposed by paragraphs 9 and 12 of resolution 2206 (2015), and reaffirms the provisions of paragraphs 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 of resolution 2206 (2015), and paragraphs 13, 14, 15 and 16 of resolution 2428 (2018);
12. Decides to keep the measures renewed in paragraph 10 under continuous review in light of progress achieved implementing all provisions of the Revitalised Agreement and developments related to human rights violations and abuses, and expresses its readiness to consider adjusting measures in paragraph 10, including through modifying, suspending, lifting or strengthening measures to respond to the situation;
13. Underscores its willingness to impose targeted sanctions in order to support the search for an inclusive and sustainable peace in South Sudan, and notes that the Committee can consider requests for delisting of individuals and entities;
14. Reaffirms that the provisions of paragraph 9 of resolution 2206 (2015) apply to individuals, and that the provisions of paragraph 12 of resolution 2206 (2015) apply to individuals and entities, as designated for such measures by the Committee, as responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, directly or indirectly, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan, and further reaffirms that the provisions of paragraphs 9 and 12 of resolution 2206 (2015) apply to individuals, as designated for such measures by the Committee, who are leaders or members of any entity, including any South Sudanese government, opposition, militia, or other group, that has, or whose members have, engaged in any of the activities described in this paragraph;
15. Expresses concern at reports of misappropriation and diversion of public resources which pose a risk to the peace, security, and stability of South Sudan, expresses serious concern at reports of financial impropriety, lack of transparency, oversight and financial governance, which pose a risk to the peace, stability, and security of South Sudan, and are out of compliance with Chapter IV of the Revitalised Agreement, and in this context, underscores that individuals engaged in actions or policies that have the purpose or effect of expanding or extending the conflict in South Sudan may be listed for travel and financial measures;
Sanctions Committee and Panel of Experts
16. Emphasizes the importance of holding regular consultations with concerned Member States, international and regional and subregional organizations, as well as the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), as may be necessary, in particular neighboring and regional States, in order to ensure the full implementation of the measures in this resolution, and in that regard encourages the Committee to consider, where and when appropriate, visits to selected countries by the Chair and/or Committee members;
17. Decides to extend until 1 July 2022 the mandate of the Panel of Experts as set out in paragraph 19 of resolution 2428 (2018), and decides that the Panel of Experts should provide to the Council, after discussion with the Committee, an interim report by 1 December 2021, a final report by 1 May 2022, and except in months when these reports are due, updates each month;
18. Requests the Secretariat to include the necessary gender expertise on the Panel of Experts, in line with paragraph 6 of resolution 2242 (2015), and encourages the Panel to integrate gender as a cross-cutting issue across its investigations and reporting;
19. Calls upon all parties and all Member States, especially those neighboring South Sudan, as well as international, regional and subregional organizations to ensure cooperation with the Panel of Experts, including by providing any information on illicit transfers of wealth from South Sudan into financial, property and business networks and further urges all Member States involved to ensure the safety of the members of the Panel of Experts and unhindered access, in particular to persons, documents and sites in order for the Panel of Experts to execute its mandate;
20. Requests the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict to share relevant information with the Committee in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 1960 (2010) and paragraph 9 of resolution 1998 (2011), and invites the High Commissioner for Human Rights to share relevant information with the Committee, as appropriate;
21. Encourages timely information exchange between UNMISS and the Panel of Experts, and requests UNMISS to assist the Committee and the Panel of Experts, within its mandate and capabilities;
22. Invites the Revitalised Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) to share relevant information with the Council, as appropriate, on its assessment of the parties’ implementation of the Revitalised Agreement, adherence to the ACOH, and the facilitation of unhindered and secure humanitarian access;
23. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
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