Security Council resolution 2179 (2014) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 28 Feb. 2015]
Symbol: S/RES/2179 (2014)
Date: 2014-10-14
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/69 [217] UN INTERIM SECURITY FORCE FOR ABYEI
S/69 [160] SUDAN--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/69 [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: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: AUSTRALIA
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: LUXEMBOURG
vote: yes
country: NIGERIA
vote: yes
country: REPUBLIC OF KOREA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: RWANDA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/2179 (2014)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               14 October 2014




               Resolution 2179 (2014)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7276th meeting, on
               14 October 2014

                    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) and 2156 (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 and
               17 March 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 impleme ntation 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), 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,
                    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

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               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 Ad dis
               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 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,
                     Noting with concern 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, as a result of
               South Sudan’s continued disagreement with the location of the SDBZ centreline,
                   Underlining the importance of fully 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 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
               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 Abd ulsalami
               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),
                    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 expressing its deep
               appreciation for the work of the troop-contributing countries,



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                 Noting with concern the fragility of the security situation in Abyei Area,
           acknowledging UNISFA’s contribution to enhanced peace and stability since its
           deployment, 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 co nsistent 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, urging all
           parties to refrain from any unilateral action to aggravate intercommunal relations
           within Abyei Area, and expressing concern over the continued implications of what
           the AUPSC described in their 6 November 2013 press state ment as “the decision by
           the Ngok Dinka to conduct a unilateral referendum”,
                 Taking note of the 7 September 2014 announcement by the Sudan National
           Election Commission to include the Abyei Area as a geographical constituency in
           the 2015 elections, which according to the 30 September 2014 Secretary-General’s
           report (S/2014/709) “can pose a serious risk to the stability of Abyei”,
                 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,
                 Further 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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                     Recalling its resolution 2117 (2013), and expressing grave concern at the
               threat to peace and security in Abyei arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing
               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 30 September 2014 Secretary-General’s report
               (S/2014/709), including its assessment that the political and security situation on the
               ground is relatively calm, but can easily escalate into open conflict, with a
               commensurate risk of deterioration of bilateral relations between Sudan and South
               Sudan, 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 28 February 2015 the mandate of the United
               Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) as set out in pa ragraph 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 28 February 2015 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 recommendations in the 30 September 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 that goal; 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.   Reiterates its demand that Sudan and South Sudan immediately resume
               the work of the AJOC, and calls upon the Government of South Sudan to name
               immediately an AJOC Co-Chair to ensure steady progress on the implementation of
               the 20 June 2011 Agreement, including the implementation of the AJOC decisions,
               and requests the Secretary-General to provide an assessment of progress on these
               issues in his regular reports, including on his recommendations resulting from the
               May 2014 Strategic Review of UNISFA;
                    4.    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
               throughout the Abyei Area, including the protection of oil infrastructure, in
               accordance with their commitments in the 20 June 2011 Agreement;




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                 5.    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 progressive reactivation 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;
                6.    Expresses concern regarding the stalled efforts to fully operationalize the
           JBVMM, as a result of South Sudan’s continued disagreement with th e location of
           the SDBZ centreline, 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”;
                 7.    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 d isputed and
           claimed areas, and demarcation of the borders;
                8.    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;
                 9.   Condemns the presence of South Sudan security service personnel and
           Diffra Oil Police units deployed in the Abyei Area, as well as the repeated entry of
           Misseriya militias into the territory, and reiterates its demands that immediately and
           without preconditions the Government of South Sudan fully redeploy its security
           service personnel from the Abyei Area and that the Government of Sudan also
           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 armed
           elements of the local communities, other than UNISFA and the Abyei Police
           Service;
                 10. 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;
                 11. 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 -
           General’s regular reporting cycle;
                12. 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


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               UNISFA in convening a peace conference between the Ngok Dinka and Mis seriya
               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 clashes, or any further unilateral activities;
                     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. 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;
                     15. 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 th eir 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;
                    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 equip ment, 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 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, facilitating basing arrangements
               and flight clearances, and providing logistical support, and calls upon 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. Further 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,




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           including applicable international humanitarian law, and United Nations guidin g
           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;
                 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, with support from the African Union
           Commission and the Federal Democratic Government of Ethiopia, to explore
           options in the context of the 12 September 2014 AUPSC Communiqué which urges
           the Parties to use creative provisions based on mutual understanding to expedite
           implementation of the outstanding administrative and security elements of the
           June 2011 Agreement, as appropriate, and to include their findings in the
           consolidated recommendations on UNISFA to be presented to the Security Council
           in the next report of the Secretary-General;
                25. 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 December 2014 and 2 February 2015 respectively, and continue to bring to the
           Council’s immediate attention any serious violations of the above referenced
           agreements;
                26. 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;
                27.   Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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