Security Council resolution 2550 (2020) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 May 2021]
Symbol: S/RES/2550 (2020)
Date: 2020-11-12
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/75 [217] UN INTERIM SECURITY FORCE FOR ABYEI
S/75 [160] SUDAN--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/75 [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|UN Interim Security Force for Abyei. Deputy Head of Mission|Joint Border Verification Monitoring Mechanism (Sudan and South Sudan)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|DEMILITARIZED ZONES|PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|ABYEI (SUDAN)|SUDAN|SOUTH SUDAN
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
vote: yes
country: ESTONIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: NIGER
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: TUNISIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VIET NAM
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                     S/RES/2550 (2020)
               Security Council                                                   Distr.: General
                                                                                  12 November 2020




               Resolution 2550 (2020)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8774th meeting, on
               12 November 2020

                    The Security Council,
                     Reaffirming all previous resolutions and Presidential statements concerning the
               situation in Abyei and along the border between Sudan and South Sudan and
               underlining the importance of full compliance with and implementation of these,
                      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), 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,
               and recalling prior agreements on the administration and security of the Abyei Area,
                    Welcoming continued cooperation between the Government of the Republic of
               the Sudan and Government of the Republic of South Sudan in support of peace,
               security and stability, including the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement on Sudan
               on 3 October 2020, further welcoming recent high-level discussions between Sudan
               and South Sudan on the status of Abyei, and the convening of the Joint Political and
               Security Mechanism (JPSM) 28–29 October 2020, and encouraging that such
               meetings and those of other joint mechanisms take place on a consistent basis,
                    Encouraging the African Union, the African Union High-Level Implementation
               Panel (AUHIP), and the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of
               Africa to intensify their mediation roles with the Governments of South Sudan and
               Sudan to encourage them to establish temporary administrative and security
               arrangements for Abyei and to achieve a political solution for the status of Abyei, and
               commending the continued assistance provided to the parties by the Federal
               Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the United Nations Interim Security Force for
               Abyei (UNISFA),
                   Acknowledging that over the course of the nine years since establishment of
               UNISFA the mission has contributed towards the stabilization and demilitarization of




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               the Abyei Area and together with the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring
               Mechanism (JBVMM) played a stabilizing role along the borders be tween South
               Sudan and Sudan,
                     Stressing the need to reconfigure the mission to adapt to the current security
               situation and to develop a viable exit strategy and plan for a responsible drawdown
               of UNISFA based on the improved ability of Sudan and South Sud an to manage
               bilateral disputes, which prioritizes safety and security of civilians living in Abyei
               and accounts for the stability of the region,
                     Underlining that over the course of nine years the Government of Sudan and the
               Government of South Sudan have not made progress establishing joint institutions in
               Abyei, and encouraging Sudan and South Sudan to engage in substantive dialogue
               that can advance the political process for resolution of the Abyei dispute,
                    Expressing concern that the delayed deployment of UN police to the level
               authorized by the Council prevents UNISFA from fulfilling its security mandate and
               holds the potential to create a security vacuum in Abyei, and further expressing
               concern about Sudan and South Sudan’s efforts to impede UNISFA from fully
               executing its mandate, including by withholding visas for police, blocking
               appointment of a civilian Deputy Head of Mission and denying access to Athony
               airport, which would ease UNISFA’s logistical challenges, reduce transport costs, and
               enhance safety and security for UNISFA personnel,
                     Commending the efforts of UNISFA, notwithstanding the impediments referred
               to in the previous paragraph, in its attempts to carry out its mandate effectively,
               including by its ongoing facilitation of peaceful migration throughout the Abyei Area,
               conflict prevention, mediation and deterrence, and expressing grave concern about
               the security threats and targeted attacks against United Nations peacekeepers in
               UNISFA, strongly underscoring the unacceptability of any attack on United Nations
               personnel, and reiterating that such attacks, which may constitute war crimes, should
               be swiftly and thoroughly investigated, and that those responsible should be held to
               account,
                     Bearing in mind that people in the Abyei Area continue to rely on humanitarian
               assistance, that access for humanitarian organizations to reach people in need remains
               of crucial importance, and that humanitarian actors continue to provide assistance to
               210,000 people in the Abyei Area,
                     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 com mitment to women’s
               empowerment, participation, and human rights, and through concerted leadership,
               consistent information and action, and support,
                    Recognizing that the current situation in Abyei and along the border between
               Sudan and South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and
               security,
                     1.    Decides to extend until 15 May 2021 the mandate of UNISFA as set out in
               paragraph 2 of resolution 1990 (2011) and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of
               the United Nations, further decides to extend until 15 May 2021 the tasks of UNISFA
               as set out in paragraph 3 of resolution 1990 (2011);
                     2.   Decides to extend until 15 May 2021 UNISFA’s mandate modification set
               forth in resolution 2024 (2011) and paragraph 1 of resolution 2075 (2012), which
               provides for UNISFA’s support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring
               Mechanism (JBVMM), and further decides that this shall be the final such extension
               unless the parties take the specific measures described in paragraph 3;


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                3.    Determines that both parties should continue to demonstrate measurable
           progress on border demarcation, specifically by taking the measures listed below:
                (1)   UNISFA and JBVMM Patrols: Achieve standing clearance and full
                      freedom of movement for all air and ground patrols,
                (2)   JBVMM Team Sites: Support operationalizing the team site in Abu
                      Qussa/Wunkur,
                (3)   JPSM: Provide clear guidance to JBVMM by convening two meetings of
                      the JPSM and ensure conclusions of meetings are widely disseminated,
                (4)   Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ): Immediately withdraw from the
                      SDBZ as both parties committed to do in the 28–29 October 2020 JPSM,
                      and to provide notification of such withdrawal to UNISFA for verification,
                (5)   Border Crossing Corridors: Operationalize the reopening of border
                      crossing corridors per the decision of the 28–29 October 2020 JPSM, and
                      together with UNISFA verify their functioning and free movement across
                      the border,
                (6)   Border Demarcation: Develop a detailed work plan and budget for
                      demarcation discussions, including negotiations on the disputed areas
                      within the framework of the signed agreements, and hold two meetings of
                      the Joint Demarcation Committee
                (7)   National Monitors: Maintain deployment of national monitors to
                      participate in JBVMM operational activities;
                4.    Maintains the authorized troop ceiling at 3,550 until 15 May 2021;
                5.    Maintains the authorized police ceiling at 640 police personnel, including
           148 individual police officers and three formed police units, requests the United
           Nations to take necessary steps to deploy additional police sequentially in order to
           meet the authorized police ceiling of 640, and expresses its intention to reduce the
           authorized police ceiling as the Abyei Police Service is gradually established and
           providing effective law enforcement throughout the Abyei area;
                 6.    Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to appoint a civilian Deputy
           Head of Mission for UNISFA and add additional civilian staff within existing
           resources to further facilitate liaison between and engagement with the parties in a
           manner consistent with the Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the
           Administration and Security of the Abyei Area of June 2011, including agreement to
           establish the Abyei Police Service;
                7.     Expresses disappointment that the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan
           continue to obstruct full implementation of UNISFA’s mandate, and demands that the
           two countries provide full support to UNISFA in the deployment of UNISFA
           personnel, including by promptly issuing visas withou t prejudice of their
           nationalities, and expresses its serious concern that the Government of Sudan has not
           issued visas promptly to support personnel critical for the mandate of UNISFA,
           including police;
                 8.    Urges that the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan facilitate basing
           arrangements for UNISFA in the Mission area including Athony airport, and provide
           necessary flight clearances, and notes that the utilization of Athony airport will reduce
           UNISFA’s transport costs and logistical challenges, facilitate MEDEVAC, official
           travel and air cargo needs for the Mission, increase humanitarian access, and enhance
           safety and security for UNISFA personnel in line with resolution 2518 (2020), and
           further calls upon all parties to fully adhere to their obligations under the Status of
           Forces Agreements;

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                    9.    Urges continued progress towards establishing temporary administrative
               and security arrangements that are agreed to by the parties;
                     10. Encourages the African Union, AUHIP, and the Special Envoy of the
               Secretary-General to continue coordinating efforts to establish temporary
               administrative and security arrangements for Abyei and to achieve a political solution
               to the status of Abyei, further encourages UNISFA to coordinate with the African
               Union, AUHIP and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on reconciliation,
               community sensitization, and political peace processes, and reiterates its requests for
               the Secretary-General to consult with relevant parties on enhancing the role played
               by the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa to support the above mentioned efforts;
                    11. Urges 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;
                     12. 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 in that regard underlines that peacekeepers are authorized to use
               all necessary means, which includes the use of force when required, in order to protect
               civilians under threat of physical violence, in accordance with mission mandates, the
               United Nations Charter and other applicable international law, and stresses the
               importance of continued and further engagement by senior mission leadership, with
               a view to ensuring that all mission components and all levels of the chain of command
               are properly informed of, trained for, and involved in the mission’s protection of
               civilians mandate and their relevant responsibilities; and commending UNISFA’s
               efforts in that regard;
                      13. 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 South Sudan fully redeploy its security service personnel from the
               Abyei Area and that the Government of 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;
                    14. Urges the two governments to take all necessary steps to ensure that Abyei
               is effectively demilitarized, including through disarmament programmes as
               necessary;
                     15. 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 Misseriya and
               Ngok Dinka communities and consistent with the previous AJOC decision to establish
               the Area as a “weapons free area”, calls upon the Governments of Sudan and South
               Sudan, the AJOC, and the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities and all other
               groups to extend full cooperation to UNISFA in this regard;
                    16. Welcomes UNISFA initiatives to support community dialogue and efforts
               by the Misseriya, Ngok Dinka, and all other communities, such as local peace
               committees, to strengthen intercommunal relationships and facilitate stability and


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           reconciliation in the Abyei Area, and invites UNISFA to coordinate with the Jubaappointed administration in Abyei, the Misseriya administration in Muglad, and the
           Khartoum-appointed administration, using appropriate civilian expertise, to maintain
           stability, foster intercommunal reconciliation, and facilitate the return of displaced
           persons to their villages and the delivery of services;
                 17. Urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to take steps to
           implement and facilitate confidence-building measures among the respective
           communities in the Abyei Area, providing for the full, equal, and meaningful
           participation of women, regardless of area of origin, at all stages, including through
           reconciliation processes at the grass-roots level as well as through ongoing efforts of
           non-governmental organizations and by fully supporting UNISFA’s efforts in
           promoting community dialogue, further urges Sudan and South Sudan to consider the
           support of the UN and African Union to help facilitate dialogue amongst all parties
           in Abyei, and looks forward to the results of the joint investigation announced by the
           Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to hold perpetrators accountable for violence
           in the Kolom area of Abyei in January 2020;
                18. Expresses concern that women remain absent from the leadership of local
           peace committees, recognizes the Juba-appointed Chief Administrator’s public
           support for women’s empowerment, calls upon all parties to promote the full, equal,
           and meaningful participation of women, including at all levels of intercommunity
           dialogue, to ensure a credible, and legitimate process, and welcomes and encourages
           UNISFA’s efforts to integrate women into peace discussions;
                 19. Welcomes UNISFA’s continued efforts, 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 humane and dignified treatment of suspects and other
           detainees, and to continue engaging with both governments on this is sue;
                 20. 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, following the release of findings by the AU Commission,
           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;
                 21. Calls upon all Member States, in particular Sudan and South Sudan, to
           provide for 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;
                  22. Demands that all parties involved allow, in accordance with international
           law, including applicable international humanitarian law, all humanitarian personnel
           full, safe and unhindered access to civilians in need of assistance and all necessary
           facilities for their operations, consistent with United Nations guiding principles of
           humanitarian assistance, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and
           independence;
               23. Welcomes the Abyei UN Joint Programme Initiative supported by the
           Sudan and South Sudan UN Country Teams;



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                    24. Encourages the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan
               to continue to facilitate the deployment of the United Nations Mine Action Service
               (UNMAS) to ensure freedom of movement, as well as the identification and clearance
               of mines in the Abyei Area and SDBZ;
                     25. Strongly urges that all parties cease all forms of violence, human rights
               violations and abuses, violations of international humanitarian law, and violations of
               other international law, as applicable, committed against civilians, including women
               and children, and bring perpetrators of such abuses or violations to justice;
                     26. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that effective monitoring of
               human rights violations and abuses, including those involving sexual and g enderbased violence and other violations and abuses committed against women and
               children is carried out, 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 swiftly issuing visas to the concerned United Nations
               personnel;
                    27. Requests the Secretary-General to seek to increase the number of women
               in UNISFA in line with resolutions 2242 (2015) and 2538 (2020), and ensure the full,
               equal, and meaningful participation of women at all levels and in all positions, to
               implement a gender mainstreaming plan in line with resolution 1325, and calls upon
               UNISFA to sustain adequate expertise on women and child protection;
                     28. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Secretary-General to
               standardise a culture of performance in UN peacekeeping, recalls its requests in
               resolution 2378 (2017) and resolution 2436 (2018) that the Secretary-General ensure
               that performance data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations is used
               to improve mission operations, including decisions such as those regarding
               deployment, remediation, repatriation and incentives, and reaffirms its support for the
               development of a comprehensive and integrated performance policy framework that
               identifies clear standards of performance for evaluating all United Nations civilian
               and uniformed personnel working in and supporting peacekeeping operations that
               facilitates effective and full implementation of mandates, and includes comprehensive
               and objective methodologies based on clear and well-defined benchmarks to ensure
               accountability for underperformance and incentives and recognition for outstanding
               performance, and calls on the United Nations to apply this framework to UNISFA as
               described in resolution 2436 (2018);
                     29. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take necessary measures to
               ensure full compliance of all personnel in UNISFA with the United Nations zero -
               tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council fully
               informed about the Mission’s progress in this regard, stresses the need to prevent such
               exploitation and abuse and to improve how these allegations are addressed in line
               with its resolution 2272 (2016), and urges troop- and police-contributing countries to
               take appropriate preventative action including vetting of all personnel,
               pre-deployment and in-mission awareness training, and to take appropriate steps to
               ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel,
               including through timely investigations of allegations by troop - and policecontributing countries, and UNISFA as appropriate, holding perpetrators to account,
               and repatriating units when there is credible evidence of widespread or systemic
               sexual exploitation and abuse by those units;
                    30. 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), the United Nations Integrated


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           Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), as well as his Special Envoy
           for the Horn of Africa;

           Reporting and Consultation
                31. Requests the Secretary-General to hold a joint consultation with the
           governments of Sudan, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, and relevant stakeholders, to
           discuss the exit strategy for UNISFA and develop options for its responsible
           drawdown and exit, and to report no later than 31 March 2021 elaborating on those
           options, which should prioritize the safety and security of civilians living in Abyei,
           account for the stability of the region, and include an option for a responsible
           drawdown and exit of UNISFA that is not limited by implementation of the 2011
           agreements;
                32. Expresses its intention to request an independent review of UNISFA in the
           context of recent political developments between and within Sudan and South Sudan
           and based on the outcomes of the joint consultation in p aragraph 31;
                33. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to inform it of progress in
           implementing UNISFA’s mandate, in one written report, no later than 15 April 2021
           and include reporting on:
               • engagement by the African Union and AUHIP on political m ediation of the
                 Abyei dispute and Sudan and South Sudan border issues, and recommendations
                 on the most appropriate framework, structure or organizational mandate for the
                 region to provide support to the parties that will enable further progress in these
                 areas,
               • the efforts deployed by the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa to support the
                 African Union and help the parties to establish temporary administrative and
                 security arrangements for Abyei and to achieve a political solution to the status
                 of Abyei,
               • progress in implementing any steps taken per paragraph 3,
               • progress with the increase in police, appointment of a civilian Deputy Head of
                 Mission, usage of Athony airport, and the issuance of visas to support
                 implementation of the mandate,
               • results of human rights monitoring as requested in paragraph 26 including
                 information, analysis, and data on violations and abuses of human rights, and
                 steps that have been taken in line with paragraph 27,
               • a summary of actions taken to improve mission perform ance and address
                 performance challenges including lapses in leadership, national caveats that
                 negatively affect mandate implementation effectiveness, and demanding
                 operational environments;
                34.   Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.




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