Security Council resolution 2156 (2014) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 Oct. 2014]
Symbol: S/RES/2156 (2014)
Date: 2014-05-29
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/2156 (2014)*
                Security Council                                                   Distr.: General
                                                                                   29 May 2014




                Resolution 2156 (2014)
                Adopted by the Security Council at its 7186th meeting, on
                29 May 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), 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 United Nations Charter, and recalling the importance of the
                principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference and regional cooperation,
                      Reiterating that the territorial boundaries of States shall not be altered by force,
                and that any territorial disputes shall be settled exclusively by peaceful means,
                      Affirming the priority it attaches to the full and urgent implementation of all
                outstanding issues from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),
                     Reaffirming its previous resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006),
                1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict; 1612
                (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), 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

           * Reissued for technical reasons on 15 October 2014.


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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 Addis
               Ababa under the auspices of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel
               (AUHIP),
                    Emphasizing the importance of the full participation of women in the
               implementation of agreements and in the prevention and resolution of conflict and
               peacebuilding more broadly,
                     Expressing its full support for the efforts of the African Union on the situation
               between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, in order to ease
               the current tension, facilitate the resumption of negotiations on post -secession
               relations and the normalization of their relations, recalling in this regard the AU
               Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) Communiqués of 24 April 2012, 24 October
               2012, 25 January 2013, 7 May 2013, 29 July 2013, 23 September 2013, 26 October
               2013, and 12 November 2013; the AUPSC Press Statement of 6 November 2013;
               and the Statement from the Chairperson of the AU 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 implement the Joint Border
               Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), in accordance with Council
               resolution 2046 and the AUPSC road map of 24 April 2012, as a result of South
               Sudan’s continued disagreement with the location of the SDBZ centreline and its
               decision of 22 November 2013 to temporarily suspend its participation in the
               JBVMM,
                    Underlining the importance of establishing and maintaining effective JBVMM
               monitoring of the SDBZ, including the “14 Mile Area”,
                    Stressing that both countries will have much to gain if they show restraint and
               choose the path of dialogue instead of resorting to violence or provocations,
                     Welcoming the importance of recent meetings of President Bashir and
               President Salva Kiir in continuing dialogue, recalling the UNSC decision in
               resolution 2046 that the parties must resume immediately negotiations to reach
               agreement on Abyei final status under the auspices of the AUHIP, calling upon all
               parties to engage constructively in the process mediated by the AUHIP to wards final
               agreement on the final status of Abyei Area, and stressing that the parties must
               immediately implement pending aspects of the 20 June 2011 Agreement, in
               particular to resolve the dispute over the Abyei Area Council and immediately
               establish the Abyei Area Administration and Abyei Police Service,
                     Commending the continued assistance provided to the parties by the AUHIP,
               including its Chairman President Thabo Mbeki, former Presidents Abdulsalami
               Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, the Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Authority
               on Development, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, the Special
               Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan and South Sudan, Haile Menkerios, and
               the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) under the lea dership
               of Lieutenant-General Yohannes Tesfamariam,




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                Commending the efforts of UNISFA in carrying out its mandate, including by
           its ongoing facilitation of peaceful migration throughout the Abyei Area, and
           expressing its deep appreciation for the work of the troop-contributing countries,
                 Noting with concern the current 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 consistent with the CPA and not by
           the unilateral actions of either party,
                 Deeply concerned by the public administration and rule of law vacuum in the
           Abyei Area, due to continued delays in the establishment of the Abyei Area
           Administration, Council and Police, including a special unit to deal with p articular
           issues related to nomadic migration, which are essential to maintain law and order
           and prevent intercommunal conflict in Abyei,
                Noting with concern the continued threat of intercommunal violence in the
           Abyei Area, including the ongoing tensions that prevent UNISFA’s and other
           agencies’ Sudanese staff from returning to Abyei,
                 Noting that the continued delay in establishing the temporary institutions and
           resolving the final status of Abyei contributes to tension in the region, emphasizing
           the importance of all parties refraining from any unilateral action to aggravate
           intercommunal relations within Abyei Area, and expressing concern over 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”,
                 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,
                     Welcoming the steps taken by UNISFA towards the effective implementati on of
               its mandate, including, inter alia, through conflict prevention, mediation and
               deterrence,
                     Taking note of the 13 May 2014 Secretary-General’s report (S/2014/336),
               including its assessment that the political and security situation on the ground has
               seriously deteriorated and could become untenable during the next dry season and
               2014-2015 migration cycle, 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 October 2014 the mandate of the United
               Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) as set out in paragraph 2 of
               resolution 1990 (2011) and modified by resolution 2024 (2011) and paragraph 1 of
               resolution 2075 (2012), and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United
               Nations, further decides to extend until 15 October 2014 the mandate of UNISFA as
               set out in paragraph 3 of resolution 1990, and determines that for the purposes of
               paragraph 1 of resolution 2024 (2011), support to the operational activities of the
               JBVMM shall include support to the Ad Hoc Committees, as appropriate when so
               requested by consensual decisions of these mechanisms, within UNISFA’s
               operational area and existing capabilities;
                    2.   Welcomes the UN’s strategic review of UNISFA, and the
               recommendations in the 13 May Secretary-General’s report of support to the
               resumption of community dialogue and administration by the comm unities under
               AJOC supervision; in this regard, calls upon the communities and the Governments
               of Sudan and South Sudan to work with the UN towards that goal; and stresses the
               importance of support in these efforts from the African Union;
                    3.   Reiterates its demand that Sudan and South Sudan immediately resume
               the work of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) to ensure steady progress
               on the implementation of the 20 June 2011 Agreement, including the
               implementation of the AJOC decisions;
                    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;
                     5.   Decides to maintain the troops authorized by resolution 2104 (2013)
               already deployed, and that the remaining authorized forces will only be deployed in
               case of reactivation of the JBVMM, and at the appropriate time as deemed by the
               Secretary-General, to enable UNISFA to provide required force protection to the


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           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 the location of
           the SDBZ centreline and its decision of 22 November 2013 to temp orarily suspend
           its participation in the JBVMM, 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 disputed 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 SPLA/SSNPS armed 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 the Republic of South Sudan fully redeploy its
           security service personnel from the Abyei Area and that the Gov ernment 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 -
           Generals’ 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
           UNISFA in convening a peace conference between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya
           traditional chiefs, and strongly urges all Abyei communities to exercise maximum


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               restraint in all their engagements and to desist from inflammatory acts or statements
               that may lead to violent clashes, or any further unilateral acti vities;
                     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 their commitments
               as set forth in the Agreements of 20 June, 29 June, 30 July 2011 and 27 September
               2012, including the redeployment of all forces from the SDBZ, achieving full
               operational capability for the JVBMM, and the Ad Hoc Committees, as well as
               completing the full demilitarization of the Abyei Area;
                    16. Calls upon all Member States, in particular Sudan and South Sudan, to
               ensure the free, unhindered and expeditious movement to and from Abyei and
               throughout the SDBZ of all personnel, as well as equipment, provisions, supplies
               and other goods, including vehicles, aircraft, and spare parts, which are for the
               exclusive and official use of UNISFA;
                     17. Renews its call upon 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,
               including applicable international humanitarian law, and United Nations guiding
               principles of humanitarian assistance;




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                 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 to continue to inform the Council of
           progress in implementing UNISFA’s mandate in two written reports, no later than
           July 30 and September 30 respectively, and continue to bring to the Council ’s
           immediate attention any serious violations of the above referenced agreements;
                25. Notes the Secretary-General’s efforts to ensure close cooperation among
           United Nations missions in the region, including UNISFA, the United Nations
           Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), and the African Union -United
           Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), as well as his Special Envoy for
           Sudan and South Sudan, and requests him to continue this practice;
                26.   Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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