Security Council resolution 2416 (2018) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 Nov. 2018]
Symbol: S/RES/2416 (2018)
Date: 2018-05-15
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/73 [217] UN INTERIM SECURITY FORCE FOR ABYEI
S/73 [160] SUDAN--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/73 [223] SOUTH SUDAN--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/ X Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan.
Subjects: UN Interim Security Force for Abyei|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|DEMILITARIZED ZONES|ABYEI (SUDAN)|SUDAN|SOUTH SUDAN
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CÔTE D'IVOIRE
vote: yes
country: EQUATORIAL GUINEA
vote: yes
country: ETHIOPIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: KAZAKHSTAN
vote: yes
country: KUWAIT
vote: yes
country: NETHERLANDS
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: POLAND
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SWEDEN
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                       S/RES/2416 (2018)
               Security Council                                                   Distr.: General
                                                                                  15 May 2018




               Resolution 2416 (2018)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8258th meeting, on
               15 May 2018

                    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), 2179 (2014), 2205 (2015), 2230 (2015), 2251 (2015), 2287 (2016), 2318
               (2016), 2352 (2017), 2386 (2017), 2411 (2018), and 2412 (2018) 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, 11 December 2014, and
               27 November 2015,
                      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,
                     Underscoring that continued cooperation between the Government of the
               Republic of the Sudan and Government of the Republic of South Sudan is critical for
               peace, security and stability and the future relations between them, encouraging
               progress on improving bilateral relations and holding regular meetings of the Jo int
               Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) and other joint mechanisms, and calling on
               both governments to implement their commitments 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), the 30 July 2011 Agreement on the Border Monitoring Support Mission
               between the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan, the




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               27 September 2012 Agreements on Cooperation and Security Arrangements, and all
               subsequent decisions of the Joint Political and Security M echanism (JPSM),
                     Commending the continued assistance provided to the parties by the African
               Union (AU), the AU High Level Implementation Panel (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
               United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA),
                     Acknowledging that over the course of the seven years since establishment of
               UNISFA, the mission has been able to stabilize and demilitarize the Abyei Area and
               that UNISFA is now an interim security force with no viable exit strategy, and in this
               regard, taking note of the need to reconfigure the mission in order to create the space
               for a viable political process that would also serve as an exit strategy,
                     Taking note of the security situation in the Abyei Area as characterized by the
               3 April 2018 Secretary-General’s report (S/2018/293), commending the UN Police
               for activities to advise and mentor the local population in absence of th e Abyei Police
               Service, urging both parties to urgently establish the Abyei Police Service, welcoming
               UNISFA’s enhanced role in fostering intercommunal dialogue, and urging all parties
               to continue these dialogue,
                     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, and strongly underscoring the
               unacceptability of any attack on United Nations personnel, and reiterating that such
               attacks, which may constitute a war crime, should be swiftly and thoroughly
               investigated, and that those responsible should be held to account,
                    Bearing in mind the current humanitarian situation in which humanitarian actors
               continue to provide assistance to 170,000 people in the Abyei Area,
                    Recalling resolution 2378 (2017) and its request of the Secretary-General to
               ensure that data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, including
               peacekeeping performance data, is used to improve analytics and the evaluation of
               mission operations, based on clear and well identified benchmarks,
                     Further recalling resolutions 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on
               women, peace, and security and emphasizing that persistent barriers to full
               implementation of these resolutions will only be dismantled through dedicated
               commitment to women’s empowerment, participation, and human rights, and through
               concerted leadership, consistent information and action, and support, to build
               women’s engagement in all levels of decision-making, also recalling resolution 2242
               and its aspiration to increase the number of women in military and police contingents
               of United Nations peacekeeping operations,
                     Expressing concern about 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, safe migration, and livelihood activities,
                     Recalling that the Security Council welcomed in resolution 2205 (2015) the
               decision of the Secretary-General to appoint a civilian head of mission,
                    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 November 2018 the mandate of UNISFA as set
               out in paragraph 2 of resolution 1990 (2011) and acting under Chapter VII of the



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           Charter of the United Nations, further decides to extend until 15 November 2018 the
           tasks of UNISFA as set out in paragraph 3 of resolution 1990 (2011);
                 2.   Recalls its decision in resolution 2412 (2018) to extend until 15 October
           2018 UNISFA’s mandate modification set forth in resolution 2024 (2011) and
           paragraph 1 of resolution 2075 (2012), further recalls its decision in resolution 2412
           (2018) that such extension shall be the final extension of support to the Joint Border
           Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) unless both parties demonstrate
           measurable progress as outlined in paragraph 3 of resolution 2412 (2018), and calls
           on the parties to take those steps;
                 3.    Decides to reduce the authorized troop ceiling to 4,500 until 15 November
           2018, and further decides that as of 15 October 2018, the authorized troop ceiling
           shall decrease to 3,959, unless it decides to extend the mandate modification set forth
           in resolution 2024 (2011) and paragraph 1 of resolution 2075 (2012), in accordance
           with paragraph 2 of resolution 2412 (2018);
                4.    Recalls the police ceiling established in resolution 1990 (2011) and
           requests the United Nations to immediately deploy additional United Nations police
           in order to meet the authorized police ceiling of 50, and demands that the
           Governments of Sudan and South Sudan provide full support to UNISFA in the
           deployment of these personnel, including by promptly issuing visas;
                 5.     Expresses its intention to revise the configuration and mandate of UNISFA
           in light of recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s 22 April 2018 letter
           and in this regard, requests the Secretary-General report to it, in consultation with all
           relevant stakeholders in particular the Governments of the Sudan and the Republic of
           South Sudan, as outlined in paragraph 33 below;
                6.    Expresses disappointment that the parties have taken few steps to
           implement the Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and
           Security of Abyei Area and to achieve a political resolution to the status of Abyei, and
           requests the parties update the AUHIP on the steps outlined below and invites the
           AUHIP to update it by 15 October 2018 on the steps taken towards the following:
                     1.    Resolution of the final status of Abyei to include steps towards
                considering the 2012 proposal made by AUHIP, noting, in particular the AU
                Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) Communiques of 26 October 2013 and
                6 February 2018,
                      2.    Implementation of all Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC)
                decisions, resolution of the allocation of positions as referred to the two
                Presidents, including delegation of sufficient authority to the AJOC chairs and
                other officials to make additional decisions and personnel appointments
                necessary to make, progress toward the establishment of the Abyei Area interim
                institutions, in accordance with the Agreement on Temporary Administrative
                and Security Arrangements for the Abyei Area of June 2011,
                     3.    Steps to promote reconciliation and engagement of the Misseriya and
                Ngok Dinka communities on the findings and recommendations of the Abyei
                Area Joint Investigation and Inquiry Committee;
                 7.     Urges continued progress toward the establishment of the Abyei Area
           interim institutions, in accordance with the Agreement on Temporary Administrative
           and Security Arrangements for the Abyei Area of June 2011, takes note, in particular,
           that in the absence of an Abyei Police Service, UNISFA continues to be the only entity
           to provide policing services in response to matters of law and order, further takes note
           of the mapping exercise from 30 November 2017 to 2 February 2018 by UN Police
           in conjunction with UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes and traditional leaders of

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               both communities for the eventual establishment of an Abyei Police Service, and
               urges the two governments to appoint the relevant officials to participate in, along
               with UNISFA, a joint integrated planning exercise and development of a roadmap
               towards establishment of the Abyei Police Service, by 15 October 2018;
                    8.   Encourages the AUHIP and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to
               continue coordinating efforts towards calling for full imp lementation of the 2011
               agreements;
                    9.    Welcomes renewed efforts to determine conclusively the Safe
               Demilitarized Border Zone (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;
                     10. 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, and commending UNISFA’s efforts in that regard;
                      11. Condemns the intermittent presence of South Sudan security service
               personnel and the deployment of Diffra Oil Police units in the Abyei Area, in violation
               of the 20 June 2011 Agreement, as well as any entry of armed militias into the
               territory, and reiterates its demands that immediately and without preconditions the
               Government of the Republic of South Sudan fully redeploy its security service
               personnel from the Abyei Area and that the Government of the Republic of the Sudan
               redeploy the Oil Police in Diffra from the Abyei Area, and further reiterates, in
               accordance with relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 1990 (2011) and
               resolution 2046 (2012), 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;
                     12. Urges the two governments to take all necessary steps to ensure that Abyei
               is effectively demilitarized, including through disarmament programs as necessary;
                     13. Reaffirms 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 Arrangements for the
               Administration and Security of the Abyei Area, the AJOC, and the M isseriya and
               Ngok Dinka communities and consistent with the previous AJOC decision to establish
               the Area as a “weapons free area”;
                     14. 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, 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;
                     15. Welcomes UNISFA initiatives, to support community dialogue and efforts
               by the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities, such as peace committees, to
               strengthen inter-communal relationships and facilitate stability and reconciliation in
               the Abyei Area;
                    16. Urges the two Governments immediately to take steps to implement
               confidence-building measures among the respective communities in the Abyei Area,
               ensuring women are involved at all stages, including through reco nciliation processes
               at the grass-roots level as well as through support for the ongoing efforts of


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           non-governmental organizations engaging in peacebuilding, and by fully supporting
           UNISFA’s efforts in promoting community dialogue;
                 17. Underscores that women’s participation at all levels of inter-community
           dialogue is critical to ensure a credible, and legitimate process and calls upon all
           parties to promote full and equal participation of women;
                 18. Welcomes UNISFA’s continued efforts, within 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, while ensuring the hu mane
           and dignified treatment of suspects and other detainees, and to continue engaging
           with both governments on this issue;
                 19. Welcomes the 14 November 2017 meeting of traditional leaders of Ngok
           Dinka and Misseriya communities, calls upon all parties to cooperate fully with the
           findings and recommendations following the Abyei Area Joint Investigation and
           Inquiry Committee’s investigation into the killing of a UNISFA peacekeeper and the
           Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief, welcomes the 24 March 2015 AUPSC press statement
           requesting the AU Commission to engage the parties on the findings and
           recommendations, and looks forward to the release of the African Union
           Commission’s report on the killing of the Ngok Dinka chief, as agreed to by the
           traditional leaders, and for the report to be used as a basis for reconciliation between
           the communities, bearing in mind the need to promote stability and reconciliation in
           the Abyei Area;
                 20. 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;
                 21. 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, infrastructure construction, including the
           Athony airport, in the Mission Area 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;
                 22. 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 the Government of South Sudan, as well as
           donors to support road maintenance, general reconstruction, and capacity-building;
                 23. 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 freedom of movement, as well as the identi fication and
           clearance of mines in the Abyei Area and SDBZ;
                  24. Further demands that all parties involved allow all humanitarian personnel
           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;



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                     25. Strongly urges that all parties cease all forms of violence, human rights
               violations and abuses, violations of international humanitarian law, and, in particular
               violations and abuses of applicable international law committed against women and
               children;
                     26. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that effective human rights
               monitoring is carried out, including of any sexual and gender-based violence and
               violations and abuses of human rights committed against women and children 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;
                    27. Requests the Secretary-General to seek to increase the number of women
               in UNISFA, as well as to ensure the meaningful participation of wome n in all aspects
               of operations;
                    28. Requests UNISFA to make rapid progress on deploying a Women and
               Child Protection Advisor;
                     29. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Secretary General to
               standardize a culture of performance in UN peacekeeping, a nd calls on him to
               continue his efforts to develop an integrated performance policy framework and apply
               it to UNISFA;
                     30. Recalls its Presidential Statement S/PRST/2015/22 and its resolution 2272
               (2016) and requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to ensure
               full compliance of UNISFA with the United Nations zero tolerance policy on sexual
               exploitation and abuse and to ensure that all personnel of the mission are vetted for
               history of sexual misconduct in the service with the United Nati ons and to keep it
               informed through his reports about UNISFA’s progress in this regard, and urges troop
               and police-contributing countries to take appropriate preventative action including
               pre-deployment awareness training, and to promote full accountabilit y in cases of
               such conduct involving their personnel;
                    31. 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 that he continue this practice;
               Reporting
                    32. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to inform it of progress in
               implementing UNISFA’s mandate, in one written report, no later than 15 October
               2018 and include reporting on:
                    • the movement of weapons into Abyei and the presence, destruction and
                      confiscation of weapons within Abyei per paragraph 13,
                    • the steps that have been taken in line with paragraph 29,
                    • results of human rights monitoring as requested in paragraph 26, including
                      information, analysis, and data on violations and abuses of human rights ,
                    • steps which the parties have taken per paragraphs 6 and 7;
                     33. Requests the Secretary-General to report no later than 15 August 2018 on
               detailed recommendations on the reconfiguration of the UNISFA mandate in order to
               create the space for a viable political process that would also serve as an exit strategy,
               including the role of the UN Country Teams in support of rule of law and
               peacebuilding, and detailed information on steps the governments should take to


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           create the conditions for an exit strategy, and in this regard, welcomes the Secretary-General’s initiative to undertake a military and police capability study, to include
           realigning military troops and associated equipment to match the security situation in
           Abyei, and further expresses its intention to continue reviewing as appropriate the
           mandate of UNISFA for reconfiguration based on the Secretary-General’s
           recommendations;
                34.   Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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