Security Council resolution 2205 (2015) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 July 2015]
Symbol: S/RES/2205 (2015)
Date: 2015-02-26
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/70 [217] UN INTERIM SECURITY FORCE FOR ABYEI
S/70 [160] SUDAN--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/70 [223] SOUTH SUDAN--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Subjects: UN Interim Security Force for Abyei|Joint Border Verification Monitoring Mechanism (Sudan and South Sudan)|Abyei Joint Oversight Committee|UN. Mine Action Service|UN Mission in South Sudan|AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|INTERNAL SECURITY|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|BOUNDARIES|DEMILITARIZED ZONES|MINE CLEARANCE|ABYEI (SUDAN)|SUDAN|SOUTH SUDAN|MILITARY PERSONNEL|POLICE|RELIEF PERSONNEL|HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING|GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE|COORDINATION WITHIN UN SYSTEM
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ANGOLA
vote: yes
country: CHAD
vote: yes
country: CHILE
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: JORDAN
vote: yes
country: LITHUANIA
vote: yes
country: MALAYSIA
vote: yes
country: NEW ZEALAND
vote: yes
country: NIGERIA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SPAIN
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VENEZUELA (BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF)
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/2205 (2015)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                26 February 2015




               Resolution 2205 (2015)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7393rd meeting, on
               26 February 2015

                    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), 2126 (2013), 2156
               (2014) and 2179 (2014), as well as presidential statements S/PRST/2012/19 and
               S/PRST/2013/14, and the Council’s press statements of 18 June 2012, 21 September
               2012, 28 September 2012, 6 May 2013, 14 June 2013, 14 February 2014, 17 March
               2014 and 11 December 2014,
                     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 Charter of the United Nations, 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), and
               underscoring 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,
                     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 South 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 2013
               decision, and the Implementation Matrix of 12 March 2013, 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),



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                    Expressing its full support for the efforts of the African Unio n 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 African Union
               Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) Communiqués of 24 April 2012, 24 October
               2012, 25 January 2013, 7 May 2013, 29 July 2013, 23 September 2013, 26 October
               2013, 12 November 2013 and 12 September 2014; the AUPSC Press Statement of
               6 November 2013; and the Statement from the Chairperson of the African Union
               Commission on 28 October 2013,
                     Reaffirming its previous resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006),
               1738 (2006), 1894 (2009) and 2175 (2014) on the protection of civilians in a rmed
               conflict; 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), 2068 (2012), and 2143 (2014) on
               children and armed conflict; 1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and
               United Nations personnel; and 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009),
               1960 (2010), 2106 (2013) and 2122 (2013) on women peace and security,
                     Stressing the need for effective human rights monitoring, including of any
               sexual and gender-based violence and violations and abuses committed against
               women and 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,
                     Recalling that its resolution 2086 (2013) reiterates the importance, when
               establishing and renewing the mandates of United Nations Missions, to include
               provisions on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in
               post-conflict situations and on children and armed conflict, and emphasizing that
               persistent barriers to full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) will only be
               dismantled through dedicated commitment to women’s empowerment, participation,
               and human rights, and through concerted leadership, consistent informa tion and
               action, and support, to build women’s engagement in all levels of decision-making,
                     Noting with concern the minimum attention the parties have given to the
               management of the Abyei Area as well as the stalled 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 fully implement the
               Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), in accordance with
               Security Council resolution 2046 and the AUPSC Roadmap of 24 April 2012,
               including as a result of South Sudan’s continued disagreement with the location of
               the SDBZ centreline, the temporary unavailability of aircraft, the denial of security
               clearances, and the tense security situation in the vicinity of Kadugli,
                   Underlining the importance of fully establishing and maintaining effective
               JBVMM monitoring of the SDBZ, including the “14 Mile Area”,
                     Welcoming further regular meetings between President Bashir and President
               Salva Kiir for continuing dialogue, recalling the United Nations Security Council
               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



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           Agreement, in particular to resolve the dispute over the Abyei Area Council and
           immediately establish the Abyei Area Administration and Abyei Police Service,
                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,
                 Commending the continued assistance provided to the parties by the AUHIP,
           the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Federal Democratic Republic
           of Ethiopia, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan and South Sudan,
           and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA),
                 Further commending the efforts of UNISFA in effectively carrying out its
           mandate, including by its ongoing facilitation of peaceful migration throughout the
           Abyei Area, conflict prevention, mediation and deterrence, expressing its deep
           appreciation for the work of the troop-contributing countries, strongly condemning
           the attacks on United Nations personnel, calling for investigations of these attacks
           in a swift and thorough manner and to hold those responsible to account,
                Underscoring concern for the fragility of the security situation in Abyei Area,
           acknowledging UNISFA’s contribution to enhanced peace and stability since its
           deployment, and expressing its determination to prevent the recurr ence of violence
           against or displacements of civilians and to avert intercommunal conflict,
                 Reiterating its deep concern regarding 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 delay in establishing the temporary
           institutions and resolving the final status of Abyei and that the continued threat of
           intercommunal violence contributes to heightened tensions in the Abyei Area,
           including those ongoing tensions that prevent UNISFA’s and other agencies’
           Sudanese staff from returning to Abyei,
                 Urging all parties to refrain from any unilateral action that could aggravate
           intercommunal relations within Abyei Area, expressing concern over the continued
           implications of what the AUPSC described in their 6 November 2013 press
           statement as “the decision by the Ngok Dinka to conduct a unilateral referendum”
           and also in this context, taking note that according to the 2 February 2015
           Secretary-General’s report (S/2015/77) the Government of Sudan is proceeding with
           the preparations for the organization of its national elections in Abyei,
                 Bearing in mind the current humanitarian situation in which humanitarian
           actors continue to provide assistance to approximately 81,000 people in the Abyei
           Area and the importance of coherence of United Nations assistance in the region,
           and further stressing the urgency of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian
           assistance to all affected populations,
                 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 continue to take measures as necessary to ensure
           security in the Abyei Area in accordance with its mandate,



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                     Recalling its resolution 2117 (2013), and expressing grave concern at the
               threat to peace and security in Abyei arising from the illicit transfer, destabili zing
               accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,
                    Expressing concern 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,
                    Taking note of the 2 February 2015 Secretary-General’s report (S/2015/77),
               including its assessment that the political and security situation on the ground is
               increasingly tense, and requires dialogue and cooperation to prevent it becoming
               more contentious, divisive, and destabilizing in the coming months, and the
               recommendations contained therein,
                    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,
                     1.    Decides to extend until 15 July 2015 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 15 July 2015 the tasks 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 recommendations in the 2 February 2015 Secretary-General’s report, and welcomes the UNISFA initiatives to support resumption of
               community dialogue and administration by the communities under Abyei Joint
               Oversight Committee (AJOC) supervision; in this regard, calls upon the
               communities and the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to take concrete steps
               towards those goals; and further welcomes the current and future support in these
               efforts from the United Nations, African Union and Government of the Federal
               Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
                     3.    Underscores 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;
                    4.    Reiterates its demand that Sudan and South Sudan immediately resume
               the work of the AJOC, without preconditions, welcomes the Government of South
               Sudan’s 4 December 2014 decision to name an AJOC Co-Chair to ensure steady
               progress on the implementation of the 20 June 2011 Agreement, including the
               implementation of the AJOC decisions, welcomes AU initiatives to support this goal
               and encourages its continued engagement, and requests the Secretary-General to
               provide an assessment of progress on these issues in his regular reports;
                    5.    Further 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



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           throughout the Abyei Area, including the protection of oil infrastructure, in
           accordance with their commitments in the 20 June 2011 Agreement;
                 6.    Decides to maintain the troops authorized by resolution 2104 (2013)
           already deployed, and that the remaining authorized forces continue to be deployed
           consistent with the evolution of the JBVMM, 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;
                 7.   Expresses concern regarding the stalled efforts to fully operationalize the
           JBVMM, welcomes the Secretary-General’s forthcoming detailed assessment and
           expresses its intention to consider the recommendations regarding JBVMM
           operations, and calls upon 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”;
                 8.    Urges renewed efforts 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;
                9.    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;
                 10. Condemns the presence of Diffra Oil Police units deployed in the Abyei
           Area, as well as the repeated entry of armed militias into the territory, and reiterates
           its demands that immediately and without preconditions the Governme nt of Sudan
           redeploy the Oil Police in Diffra from the Abyei Area, 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 ar med
           elements of the local communities, other than UNISFA and the Abyei Police Service;
                 11. Supports the AJOC’s 3 May 2013 decision on Abyei’s status as a
           weapons-free area, underscores the AUPSC’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 in this regard, urges the two Governments to take all necessary steps to
           ensure that Abyei is effectively demilitarized, including through disarmament
           programs as necessary;
                 12. Affirms that UNISFA may undertake weapons confiscation and
           destruction in the Abyei Area as authorized under resolution 1990 (2011), consistent
           with its mandate and within its existing capabilities, in coordination with the
           signatories of the June 2011 Agreement on the Temporary Arrangemen ts for the
           Administration and Security of the Abyei Area, the AJOC, and the Misseriya and
           Ngok Dinka communities and consistent with the previous AJOC decision to
           establish the Area as a “weapons free area”, and reiterates its request that UNISFA,


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               observe, document and report on the movement of weapons into Abyei and the
               presence , destruction and confiscation of weapons within Abyei as part of the
               Secretary-General’s regular reporting cycle;
                     13. 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;
                     14. 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 grass-roots level and supporting
               UNISFA in promoting community dialogue and in convening a peace conference
               between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya traditional chiefs, 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 cl ashes, or any
               further unilateral activities;
                     15. Requests UNISFA, within its existing capabilities and resources and in
               close coordination with the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities, to strengthen
               the capacities of Community Protection Committees in order to assist with
               management of law and order processes in Abyei;
                    16. 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, and reiterates the need to enable the two
               communities find closure on the assassination of the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief;
                     17. 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 Septem ber
               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;
                    18. 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;
                     19. Renews its call upon the Governments of 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, for entry into Sudan and South
               Sudan, facilitating basing arrangements and flight clearances, and providing logistical
               support, calls upon the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to facilitate travel
               from within Sudan and South Sudan to and from Abyei, and further calls upon all
               parties to fully adhere to their obligations under the Status of Forces Agreements;


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                20. Recognizes that the absence of development projects and the inability to
           deliver basic government services has had an adverse effect on Abyei populations
           and calls upon the Government of Sudan and Government of South Sudan, as well
           as donors to support reconstruction and capacity-building;
                 21. Demands that the Government of Sudan and the Government of South
           Sudan continue to facilitate the deployment of the United Nations Mine Action
           Service (UNMAS) to ensure JBVMM freedom of movement as well as the
           identification and clearance of mines in the Abyei Area and SDB Z;
                 22. Further demands that all parties involved allow and facilitate all
           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;
                 23. Strongly urges that all parties cease all forms of violence, human rights
           violations and abuses, violations of international humanitarian law, and violations
           and abuses against children in violation of applicable international law;
                 24. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that effective human rights
           monitoring is carried out, and the results included in his reports to the C ouncil, 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;
                 25. 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 abuse and to keep the Council informed if cases of such conduct
           occur;
                26. Welcomes the appointment of civilian Head of Mission for UNISFA, and
           encourages close communication and coordination with the Force Commander,
           United Nations Country Teams and diplomatic communities of Khartoum and Juba,
           as well as civil society, the African Union and the Gover nment of the Federal
           Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
                27. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to inform the Council of
           progress in implementing UNISFA’s mandate in two written reports, no later than
           1 May 2015 and 15 June 2015 respectively, and continue to bring to the Council’s
           immediate attention any serious violations of the above referenced agreements;
                28. Notes the Secretary-General’s efforts to ensure close cooperation among
           United Nations missions in the region, including UNISFA, the Unit ed 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 that he continue this practice;
                29.   Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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