Security Council resolution 2290 (2016) [on renewal of sanctions imposed by Security Council resolution 2206 (2015) and the extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan until 1 July 2017]
Symbol: S/RES/2290 (2016)
Date: 2016-05-31
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/71 [223] SOUTH SUDAN--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/ X Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan.
Subjects: UN Mission in South Sudan|UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan|UN. Panel of Experts on South Sudan Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2206 (2015)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|INTERNAL SECURITY|SANCTIONS|CEASEFIRES|SOUTH SUDAN|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ANGOLA
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: EGYPT
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: MALAYSIA
vote: yes
country: NEW ZEALAND
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SENEGAL
vote: yes
country: SPAIN
vote: yes
country: UKRAINE
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: URUGUAY
vote: yes
country: VENEZUELA (BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF)
vote: yes

                United Nations                                                                S/RES/2290 (2016)*
                Security Council                                               Distr.: General
                                                                               31 May 2016




                Resolution 2290 (2016)
                Adopted by the Security Council at its 7702nd meeting, on
                31 May 2016

                     The Security Council,
                      Recalling its previous resolutions and statements on South Sudan, in particular
                resolutions 2057 (2012), 2109 (2013), 2132 (2013), 2155 (2014), 2187 (2014), 2206
                (2015), 2241 (2015), 2252 (2015), 2271 (2016) and 2280 (2016),
                      Expressing grave alarm and concern regarding the conflict between the
                Government of the Republic of South Sudan and opposition forces which emanated
                from internal political disputes among the country’s political and military leaders
                that has resulted in great human suffering, including significant loss of life,
                displacement of more than two million people, and the loss of propert y, further
                impoverishing and disadvantaging the people of South Sudan,
                      Welcoming the signing of the “Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in
                the Republic of South Sudan” (“the Agreement”) as contained in S/2015/654 and
                further welcoming the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity
                (TGNU) on 29 April 2016 as a vital step towards the full implementation of the
                Agreement and also welcoming the remarks of both President Salva Kiir and First
                Vice President Riek Machar on the need to ensure reconciliation and a spirit of
                cooperation,
                    Urging the TGNU to fully and unconditionally implement all parts of the
                Agreement, uphold the permanent ceasefire and address the economic crisis and dire
                humanitarian situation,
                      Welcoming the establishment of the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission and
                its work towards implementing ceasefire and transitional security arrangements, and
                the commencement of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, and noting the
                positive meeting and dialogue of military and police representatives in Juba at the
                conference held on 12-14 May 2016,
                     Welcoming the support of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission
                (JMEC) and the African Union through its High Representative for South Sudan,
                former President Alpha Oumar Konaré, for the formation of the TGNU and calling
                upon the TGNU to extend its full cooperation and support to the JMEC Chair,
                former President Festus Mogae, for implementation of the Agreement,

           * Reissued for technical reasons on 22 September 2016.


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                     Strongly condemning past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses and
               violations of international humanitarian law, including those involving targeted
               killings of civilians, ethnically-targeted violence, extrajudicial killings, rape, and
               other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, recruitment and use of children in
               armed conflict, abductions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention,
               violence aimed at spreading terror among the civilian population, and a ttacks on
               schools, places of worship and hospitals, as well as United Nations and associated
               peacekeeping personnel and objects, by all parties, including armed groups and
               national security forces, as well as the incitement to commit such abuses and
               violations, further condemning harassment and targeting of civil society,
               humanitarian personnel and journalists, and emphasizing that those responsible for
               violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human
               rights must be held accountable, and that South Sudan’s TGNU bears the primary
               responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing,
               and crimes against humanity,
                     Expressing deep concern over the large-scale displacement of persons and
               deepening humanitarian crisis, noting the finding in the final report of the South
               Sudan Panel of Experts (S/2016/70), established pursuant to paragraph 18 of
               resolution 2206 (2015), that obstruction of humanitarian access is widespread and
               that parts of numerous states of South Sudan are entirely blocked from humanitarian
               relief, stressing the responsibility borne by all parties to the conflict for the
               suffering of the people of South Sudan, and in this regard, recognizes that in
               accordance with the Agreement, the TGNU shall review the Non -Governmental
               Organizations Bill, and submit the legislation to a process of public consultation to
               ensure that such legislation is consistent with international best practice and with its
               commitment to create an enabling political, administrative, operational and legal
               environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and protection,
                     Commending United Nations humanitarian agencies and partners for their
               efforts to provide urgent and coordinated support to the population, calling upon all
               parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate, in accordance with relevant provisions
               of international law and United Nations guiding principles of humanitarian
               assistance, the full, safe, and unhindered access of relief personnel, equipment and
               supplies to all those in need and the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance, in
               particular to internally displaced persons and refugees, condemning all attacks
               against humanitarian personnel and facilities and recalling that attacks against
               humanitarian personnel and depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their
               survival may amount to violations of international humanitarian law,
                     Taking note of the December 2015 UN Panel of Experts’ Report (S/2016/70),
               which, inter alia, notes violations of the Agreement’s permanent ceasefire by the
               parties, including after the signing of the Agreement, the ever -worsening
               humanitarian catastrophe, widespread human rights violations and abuses, and
               government violations of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
               status-of-forces agreement, and noting the finding in the Panel of Experts Final
               Report that, while it is not a violation of the sanctions measures established
               pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015), both sides have continued to acquire arms and
               military equipment after the signing of the Agreement and noting that such
               acquisitions undermine the implementation of the Agreement by facilitating
               violations of the permanent ceasefire,




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                 Welcoming the resolve indicated in the IGAD Council of Ministers
           Communiqué of 31 January 2016, urging the TGNU to abide by and take no action
           inconsistent with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
           30-31 January 2016 communiqué, which was subsequently endorsed by the parties
           and JMEC, on the issue of the Presidential Decree on the creation of 28 new states
           and calling on the United Nations Security Council to support consequences in the
           event the South Sudanese parties fail or refuse to implement the Peace Agreement,
           and further welcoming its demand that the parties to the conflict take immediate
           action to ensure unconditional humanitarian access across the country,
                 Welcoming also the 29 January 2016 AU PSC communiqué which, inter alia,
           called on all South Sudanese parties to abide scrupulously by the terms of the
           Agreement and implement faithfully its provisions, called on all African Union
           (AU) Member States and partners to fully support the implementation of the
           Agreement, and urged the international community to lend support towards the
           implementation of the Agreement in a coordinated manner,
                 Welcoming the 26 September 2015 AU PSC communiqué, which, inter alia,
           expressed the AU’s commitment, both through the High Representative for South
           Sudan and the AU High Level ad hoc Committee on South Sudan, to fully play its
           role in the implementation process, together with IGAD, the United Nations and
           other concerned international stakeholders,
                Also welcoming the 22 May 2015 AU PSC press statement, which, inter alia,
           underlined the particular relevance of resolution 2206 (2015), in order to support the
           search for an inclusive and sustainable peace in South Sudan,
                Recalling the AU PSC Communiqués dated 12 June 2014, 5 December 2014
           and 29 January 2015 which, inter alia, stressed that sanctions will be imposed
           against all parties that continue to obstruct the political process and undermine the
           Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of 23 January 2014, and further recalling the AU
           PSC Communiqué dated 26 September 2015 expressing determination to impose
           measures against all those who would impede the implementation of the Agreement
           and the AU PSC Communiqué dated 29 January 2016 which recalls previous AU
           PSC Communiqués and press statements on South Sudan,
                 Further recalling the communiqué of the 28th Extraordinary Session of the
           IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which inter alia, invited
           collective action as appropriate by the States of IGAD to enact asset freezes and
           travel bans, and deny the supply of arms and ammunition and any other material
           that could be used in war and called on the AU PSC and United Nations Security
           Council, and the international community to render all possible assistance in the
           implementation of such action,
                Welcoming the China-mediated “Five-Point Plan” that was agreed upon during
           the Special Consultation in Support of IGAD-led South Sudan Peace Process
           convened on 12 January 2015 in Khartoum, and strongly urging the TGNU to
           immediately implement the Five-Point Plan,
                Expressing its deep appreciation for the actions taken by UNMISS
           peacekeepers and troop- and police-contributing countries to protect civilians,
           including foreign nationals, under threat of physical violence and to stabilize the
           security situation,




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                     Recognizing the importance of independent and public human rights
               monitoring, investigation and reporting for its useful role in laying the groundwork
               for justice, accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese
               communities,
                   Taking note with interest of the reports on the human rights situation in South
               Sudan issued by UNMISS, the Secretary-General, and the Office of the High
               Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),
                     Expressing grave concern that, according to the 11 March 2016 “Report of
               Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Assessment Mission to Improve
               Human Rights, Accountability, Reconciliations and Capacity in South Sudan” and
               the UNMISS/OHCHR 4 December 2015 report “The State of Human Rights in the
               Protracted Conflict in South Sudan”, the scale, intensity and severity of human
               rights violations and abuses have increased with the continuation of hostilities, that
               there continue to be reasonable grounds to believe that violations and abuses of
               human rights, including those involving extrajudicial killings, rape and other acts of
               sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detention,
               as well as violations of international humanitarian law have been committed, which
               may amount to war crimes and/or crimes against humanity, and stressing the urgent
               and imperative need to end impunity in South Sudan and to bring to justice
               perpetrators of such crimes,
                    Welcoming the release of the AU Commission of Inquiry (AU COI) report on
               South Sudan and the Separate Opinion, and recognizing the AU COI’s work in
               investigating and documenting violations and abuses of international human rights
               law and violations of international humanitarian law in South Sudan and expressing
               grave concern at the AU COI’s finding that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
               war crimes such as murder, outrages upon personal dignity such as rape and other
               acts of sexual violence, and cruel and degrading treatment, targeting of civilian
               objects and protected property have occurred and that violations were carried out by
               both sides to the conflict,
                    Emphasizing its hope that this and other reporting will be considered, as
               appropriate, by the mechanisms on transitional justice, accountability, reconciliation
               and healing as called for in Chapter V of the Agreement, including the hybrid court
               and the Commission for Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation, stressing the
               importance of accountability, reconciliation, and healing among all South Sudanese
               communities as prominent elements of a transitional agenda, while also taking note
               of the important role international investigations, and where appropriate,
               prosecutions can play with respect to holding those responsib le for war crimes and
               crimes against humanity,
                     Strongly condemning the use of media to broadcast hate speech and transmit
               messages instigating sexual violence against a particular ethnic group, which has the
               potential to play a significant role in promoting mass violence and exacerbating
               conflict, and calling on the TGNU to take appropriate measures to address such
               activity, and further urging all parties to desist from these actions and instead
               contribute to promoting peace and reconciliation among the communities,
                     Recognizing the important role played by civil society organizations, faith
               leaders, women, and youth in South Sudan, underscoring the importance of their
               participation — along with the former SPLM detainees and other political parties —
               to finding a sustainable solution to the crisis in the country, and concerned by efforts


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           of some TGNU officials to limit such participation includ ing by increased
           restrictions of freedom of expression,
                 Reaffirming all its relevant resolutions on women, peace, and security, on
           children and armed conflict, and the protection of civilians in armed conflict, as
           well as resolutions 1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United
           Nations personnel, resolution 2150 (2014) on the Prevention and Fight against
           Genocide, resolution 2151 (2014) on security sector reform, and resolution 2286
           (2016) on protection of humanitarian and health-care personnel and facilities,
                  Recalling resolutions 1209 (1998) and 2117 (2013), and 2220 (2015) and
           expressing grave concern at the threat to peace and security in South Sudan arising
           from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and
           light weapons and emphasizing the importance of strengthening efforts to combat
           the illicit circulation of such weapons,
                Recalling the Informal Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions report
           (S/2006/997) on best practices and methods, including paragraphs 21, 22, 23, 24
           and 25 that discuss possible steps for clarifying methodological standards for
           monitoring mechanisms,
                 Noting the Agreement’s call for South Sudan’s political leaders to establish
           effective leadership and to commit themselves to the fight against corruption,
                  Reiterating its concern at persistent restrictions placed upon the movement
           and operations of UNMISS, strongly condemning the attacks by government and
           opposition forces and other groups on United Nations and IGAD personnel and
           facilities, and the detentions and kidnappings of United Nations and associated
           personnel and calling upon the Government of South Sudan to complete its
           investigations of these attacks in a swift and thorough manner and to hold those
           responsible to account,
                 Determining that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat
           to international peace and security in the region,
                Acting under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
               1.    Endorses the “Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the
           Republic of South Sudan” (the “Agreement”);
                2.    Welcomes the formation of the TGNU on 29 April 2016 as a vital step in
           towards the full implementation of the Agreement;
                 3.    Expresses deep concern at the failures of South Sudan’s leaders to fully
           implement their commitments pursuant to the Agreement, and to bring an end to the
           hostilities and, further, condemns the continued and flagrant violations of the
           ceasefire provisions of the Agreement, including violations as documented by the
           Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Mechanism;
                4.    Demands that South Sudan’s leaders fully and immediately adhere to the
           permanent ceasefire in accordance with their obligations under the Agreement, and
           allow in accordance with relevant provisions of international law and the UN
           guiding principles of humanitarian assistance, full, safe and unhindered
           humanitarian access to help ensure timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to all
           those in need;
                5.   Reiterates that there is no military solution to the conflict;


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               Targeted Sanctions
                    6.    Underscores its willingness to impose targeted sanctions in order to
               support the search for an inclusive and sustainable peace in South Sudan, including
               through the timely and full implementation of the Agreement;
                    7.    Decides to renew until 31 May 2017 the travel and financial measures
               imposed by paragraphs 9 and 12 of resolution 2206 (2015), and reaffirms the
               provisions of paragraphs 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 of resolution 2206 (2015);
                     8.    Reaffirms that the provisions of paragraph 9 of resolution 2206 (2015)
               apply to individuals, and that the provisions of paragraph 12 of resolution 2206
               (2015) apply to individuals and entities, as designated for such measures by the
               Committee established pursuant to paragraph 16 of resolution 2206 (2015) (“the
               Committee”), as responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, directly or
               indirectly, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security or stability of South
               Sudan;
                    9.  Underscores that such actions or policies as described in paragraph 8
               above may include, but are not limited to:
                    (a) Actions or policies that have the purpose or effect of expanding or
               extending the conflict in South Sudan or obstructing reconciliati on or peace talks or
               processes, including breaches of the Agreement;
                     (b) Actions or policies that threaten transitional agreements or undermine the
               political process in South Sudan;
                     (c) Planning, directing, or committing acts that violate applicable
               international human rights law or international humanitarian law, or acts that
               constitute human rights abuses, in South Sudan;
                     (d) The targeting of civilians, including women and children, through the
               commission of acts of violence (including killing, maiming, torture, or rape or other
               sexual and gender-based violence), abduction, enforced disappearance, forced
               displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where
               civilians are seeking refuge, or through conduct that would cons titute a serious
               abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law;
                     (e) The use or recruitment of children by armed groups or armed forces in
               the context of the armed conflict in South Sudan;
                     (f) The obstruction of the activities of international peacekeeping,
               diplomatic, or humanitarian missions in South Sudan, including the Ceasefire and
               Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism or of the delivery or
               distribution of, or access to, humanitarian assistance;
                    (g) Attacks against United Nations missions, international security
               presences, or other peacekeeping operations, or humanitarian personnel; or
                    (h) Acting for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, an individual or entity
               designated by the Committee;
                     10. Reaffirms that the provisions of paragraphs 9 and 12 of resolution 2206
               (2015) apply to individuals, as designated for such measures by the Committee, who
               are leaders of any entity, including any South Sudanese government, opposition,



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           militia, or other group, that has, or whose members have, engaged in any of the
           activities described in paragraphs 8 and 9 above;

           Sanctions Committee/Panel of Experts
                 11. Emphasizes the importance of holding regular consultations with
           concerned Member States, international and regional and subregional organizations,
           as well as UNMISS, as may be necessary, in particular neighbouring and regional
           States, in order to ensure the full implementation of the measures in this resolution,
           and in that regard encourages the Committee to consider, where and when
           appropriate, visits to selected countries by the Chair and/or Committee members;
                  12. Decides to extend until 1 July 2017 the mandate of the Panel of Experts
           as set out in paragraph 18 of resolution 2206 (2015) and this paragraph, expresses
           its intention to review the mandate and take appropriate action regarding the further
           extension no later than 31 May 2017, and decides that the Panel should carry out the
           following tasks:
                 (a) Assist the Committee in carrying out its mandate as specified in this
           resolution, including through providing the Committee with information relevant to
           the potential designation of individuals and entities who may be engaging in the
           activities described in paragraphs 8 and 9 above;
                 (b) Gather, examine and analyse information regarding the implementation
           of the measures decided in this resolution, in particular incidents of non-compliance,
           with particular focus on the benchmarks outlined in paragraphs 15 and 16 below;
                 (c) Gather, examine and analyse information regarding the supply, sale or
           transfer of arms and related materiel and related military or other ass istance,
           including through illicit trafficking networks, to individuals and entities
           undermining implementation of the Agreement or participating in acts that violate
           international human rights law or international humanitarian law, as applicable;
                (d) Provide to the Council, after discussion with the Committee, an interim
           report by 1 December 2016, a final report by 1 May 2017, and except in the months
           when these reports are due, updates each month;
                (e) Also to provide to the Council a report within 120 days providing
           analysis of the current security threats facing the TGNU, and its needs to maintain
           law and order in South Sudan, as well as further analysis on the role of transfers of
           arms and related materiel coming into South Sudan since the formation of the
           TGNU with respect to implementation of the Agreement and threats to UNMISS
           and other UN and international humanitarian personnel;
                 (f) Assist the Committee in refining and updating information on the list of
           individuals and entities subject to the measures imposed by this resolution,
           including through the provision of identifying information and addition al
           information for the publicly available narrative summary of reasons for listing;
                13. Calls upon all parties and all Member States, as well as international,
           regional and subregional organizations to ensure cooperation with the Panel of
           Experts and further urges all Member States involved to ensure the safety of the
           members of the Panel of Experts and unhindered access, in particular to persons,
           documents and sites in order for the Panel of Experts to execute its mandate;




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                    14. Requests the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for
               Children and Armed Conflict and the Special Representative for Sexual Violence in
               Conflict to share relevant information with the Committee in accordance with
               paragraph 7 of resolution 1960 (2010) and paragraph 9 of resolution 1998 (2011);

               Review
                     15. Expresses its intent to monitor and review the situation at 90-day
               intervals from the adoption of this resolution or more frequently, as needed, and
               invites the JMEC to share relevant information with the Council, as appropriate, on
               its assessment of the parties’ implementation of the Agreement, adherence to the
               permanent ceasefire, and facilitation of humanitarian access, also expresses its
               intent to impose any sanctions that may be appropriate to respond to the situation,
               which may include an arms embargo and the designation of senior individuals
               responsible for actions or policies that threaten the peace, security or stability of
               South Sudan, including by impeding the implementation of the Agreement, or by
               failing to take effective and comprehensive steps to cause forces under direct or
               indirect control to cease military operations, acts of violence, as well as human
               rights violations or abuses or violations of international humanitarian law, and to
               enable full access for humanitarian assistance;
                     16. Affirms also that it shall be prepared to adjust the measures contained in
               this resolution, including by strengthening through additional measures, as well as
               modification, suspension or lifting of the measures, as may be needed at any time in
               light of the progress achieved in the peace, accountability, and reconciliation
               process, and in light of the implementation of the Agreement and the parties’
               commitments, including the ceasefire, and compliance with this and other
               applicable resolutions;
                    17.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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