Security Council resolution 2577 (2021) [on renewal of sanctions imposed by Security Council resolution 2428 (2018) and extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan until 1 July 2022]
Symbol: S/RES/2577 (2021)
Date: 2021-05-28
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/76 [223] SOUTH SUDAN--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/76 [216] UN MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN
S/ X Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan.
Subjects: UN. Panel of Experts on South Sudan Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2206 (2015)|UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan|UN Mission in South Sudan|Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (2018)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|SANCTIONS|SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE|ARMS EMBARGO|FROZEN ASSETS|TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|SOUTH SUDAN
Votes in favour: 13
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 2
Voting record:
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: ESTONIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: INDIA
vote: abstention
country: IRELAND
vote: yes
country: KENYA
vote: abstention
country: MEXICO
vote: yes
country: NIGER
vote: yes
country: NORWAY
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
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/2577 (2021)*
            Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                             28 May 2021




            Resolution 2577 (2021)
            Adopted by the Security Council on 28 May 2021

                  The Security Council,
                 Recalling its previous resolutions, statements of its President, and press
            statements on the situation in South Sudan,
                  Affirming its support for the 2018 “Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of
            the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan” (the Revitalised Agr eement), stressing
            that the peace process only remains viable with the full commitment by all parties,
            and welcoming in this regard encouraging developments in implementing the
            Revitalized Agreement, including reconstituting the Transitional National Legis lative
            Assembly, in order to create the conditions necessary to advance the peace process,
                  Expressing appreciation for the leadership of the Intergovernmental Authority
            on Development (IGAD) in advancing the peace process in South Sudan, commending
            the ongoing mediation by the Community of Sant’Egidio to foster political dialogue
            between signatories and non-signatories of the Revitalised Agreement, and calling on
            South Sudanese parties to demonstrate the political will to peacefully resolve the
            outstanding differences that are driving continued violence,
                  Recognizing the reduction in violence between signatory parties to the
            Revitalised Agreement and that the permanent ceasefire was upheld in most parts of
            the country between those parties,
                  Reiterating its alarm and deep concern regarding the political, security,
            economic, and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, taking note of the impact of the
            COVID-19 pandemic, and emphasizing there can be no military solution to the
            situation in South Sudan,
                 Expressing deep concern at continued fighting in South Sudan, and condemning
            repeated violations of the Revitalised Agreement and the Agreement on Cessation of
            Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access (ACOH) ,
                  Expressing concern regarding the delays in implementing the Revitalised
            Agreement, and stressing the need to expeditiously finalize security arrangements,
            establish all institutions of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity
            (RTGNU), and make progress on transitional reforms,
                  Strongly condemning past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses and
            violations of international humanitarian law, further condemning harassment and
            targeting of civil society, humanitarian personnel and journalists, emphasizing that

          * Reissued for technical reasons on 4 June 2021.


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               those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and
               abuses of human rights must be held accountable, and that the RTGNU bears the
               primary responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, ethnic
               cleansing, and crimes against humanity,
                     Expressing deep concern at reports of misappropriation of funds that undermine
               the stability and security of South Sudan, and stressing that these activities can have
               a devastating impact on society and individuals, weaken democratic institutions,
               undermine the rule of law, perpetuate violent conflicts, facilitate illegal activities,
               divert humanitarian assistance or complicate its delivery, and undermine economic
               markets,
                     Also 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,
                    Strongly encouraging the South Sudan authorities to improve their engagement
               with the Panel of Experts and prevent any obstruction to the implementation of its
               mandate,
                    Taking note of the Final 2021 report (S/2021/365) of the United Nations Panel
               of Experts,
                    Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan arms embargo
               benchmarks (S/2021/321),
                     Determining that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitu te a threat to
               international peace and security in the region,
                    Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

               Arms Embargo and Inspections
                     1.   Decides to renew until 31 May 2022 the measures on arms imposed by
               paragraph 4 of resolution 2428 (2018), and reaffirms the provisions of paragraph 5 of
               resolution 2428 (2018);
                     2.   Expresses its readiness to review arms embargo measures, through inter
               alia modification, suspension, or progressive lifting of these measures, in the light of
               progress achieved on the following key benchmarks:
                    (a) the completion, by the RTGNU, of Stages 1, 2, and 3 of the Strategic
               Defense and Security Review (SDSR) process contained in the Revitalised
               Agreement;
                    (b) the formation, by the RTGNU, of a unified command structure for the
               Necessary Unified Forces (NUF), the training, graduation, and redeployment of th e
               NUF, and allocation by the RTGNU of adequate resources for the planning and
               implementation of the redeployment of the NUF;
                    (c) progress, by the RTGNU, on the establishment and implementation of the
               disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) process, and in particular the
               development and implementation of a plan for the collection and disposal of long and
               medium range heavy weapons, and the development of a time-bound plan for the
               complete and verifiable demilitarization of all civilian areas;
                     (d) progress by the South Sudanese defense and security forces on properly
               managing their existing arms and ammunition stockpiles, including by establishing
               the necessary planning documents, protocols, and training for the recording, storage,
               distribution and management of the weapons and ammunition;



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                 (e) the implementation of the Joint Action Plan for the Armed Forces on
           addressing conflict-related sexual violence, with an emphasis on the training,
           sensitization, accountability, and oversight of the defen se and security forces;
                3.     Calls on the RTGNU to make progress on implementation of public
           finance management reforms in the Revitalised Agreement, including by making
           information on all revenues, expenditures, deficits, and debts of the RTGNU
           accessible to the public; and further calls on the RTGNU to establish the Hybrid Court
           for South Sudan, and set up the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing
           and the Compensation and Reparation Authority;
                4.   Requests in this regard the Secretary-General, in close consultation with
           UNMISS and the Panel of Experts, to conduct, no later than 15 April 2022, an
           assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks established in paragraph 2;
                 5.  Requests the South Sudan authorities to report, no later than 15 April 2022,
           to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South
           Sudan (“the Committee”) on the progress achieved on the key benchmarks in
           paragraph 2, and invites the South Sudan authorities to report on progress achieved
           on implementation of reforms in paragraph 3;
                6.     Stresses the importance that notifications or requests for exemptions
           pursuant to paragraph 5 of resolution 2428 (2018) should contain all relevant
           information, including the purpose of the use, the end user, the technical
           specifications and quantity of the equipment to be shipped and, when applicable, the
           supplier, the proposed date of delivery, mode of transportation and itinerary of
           shipments;
                 7.   Underscores that arms shipments in violation of this resolution risk fueling
           conflict and contributing to further instability, and strongly urges all Member States
           to take urgent action to identify and prevent such shipments within their territory;
                 8.   Calls upon all Member States, in particular States neighboring South
           Sudan, to inspect, in accordance with their national authorities and legislation and
           consistent with international law, in particular the law of the sea and relevant
           international civil aviation agreements, all cargo to South Sudan, in their territory,
           including seaports and airports, if the State concerned has information that provides
           reasonable grounds to believe the cargo contains items the supply, sale, or transfer of
           which is prohibited by paragraph 4 of resolution 2428 (2018) for the purpose of
           ensuring strict implementation of these provisions;
                 9.    Decides to authorize all Member States to, and that all Member States
           shall, upon discovery of items the supply, sale, or transfer of which is prohibited by
           paragraph 4 of resolution 2428 (2018), seize and dispose (such as through destruction,
           rendering inoperable, storage or transferring to a State other than the originating or
           destination States for disposal) of such items, and decides further that all Member
           States shall cooperate in such efforts;
                 10. Requires any Member State when it undertakes an inspection pursuant to
           paragraph 7 of this resolution, to submit promptly an initial written report to the
           Committee containing, in particular, explanation of the grounds for the inspections,
           the results of such inspections, and whether or not cooperation was provided, and, if
           prohibited items for supply, sale, or transfer are found, further requires such Member
           States to submit to the Committee within 30 days a subsequent written report
           containing relevant details on the inspection, seizure, and disposal, and relevant
           details of the transfer, including a description of the items, their origin and intended
           destination, if this information is not in the initial report;



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               Targeted Sanctions
                    11. Decides to renew until 31 May 2022 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), and
               paragraphs 13, 14, 15 and 16 of resolution 2428 (2018);
                     12. Decides to keep the measures renewed in paragraph 11 under continuous
               review in light of progress achieved implementing all provisions of the Revitalised
               Agreement and developments related to human rights violations and abuses, and
               expresses its readiness to consider adjusting measures in paragraph 11, including
               through modifying, suspending, lifting or strengthening measures to respond to the
               situation;
                     13. Underscores its willingness to impose targeted sanctions in order to
               support the search for an inclusive and sustainable peace in South Sudan, and notes
               that the Committee can consider requests for delisting of individuals and entities;
                     14. 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,
               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, and further
               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 or
               members of any entity, including any South Sudanese government, opposition,
               militia, or other group, that has, or whose members have, engaged in any of the
               activities described in this paragraph;
                     15. Expresses concern at reports of misappropriation and diversion of public
               resources which pose a risk to the peace, security, and stability of South Sudan,
               expresses serious concern at reports of financial impropriety, lack of transparency,
               oversight and financial governance, which pose a risk to the peace, stability, and
               security of South Sudan, and are out of compliance with Chapter IV of the Revitalised
               Agreement, and in this context, underscores that individuals engaged in actions or
               policies that have the purpose or effect of expanding or extending the conflict in South
               Sudan may be listed for travel and financial measures;

               Sanctions Committee and Panel of Experts
                    16. Emphasizes the importance of holding regular consultations with
               concerned Member States, international and regional and subregional organizations,
               as well as the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), as may be
               necessary, in particular neighboring 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;
                     17. Decides to extend until 1 July 2022 the mandate of the Panel of Experts as
               set out in paragraph 19 of resolution 2428 (2018), and decides that the Panel of
               Experts should provide to the Council, after discussion with the Committee, an
               interim report by 1 December 2021, a final report by 1 May 2022, and except in
               months when these reports are due, updates each month;
                    18. Requests the Secretariat to include the necessary gender expertise on the
               Panel of Experts, in line with paragraph 6 of resolution 2242 (2015), and encourages
               the Panel to integrate gender as a cross-cutting issue across its investigations and
               reporting;


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                 19. Calls upon all parties and all Member States, especially those neighboring
           South Sudan, as well as international, regional and subregional organizations to
           ensure cooperation with the Panel of Experts, including by providing any information
           on illicit transfers of wealth from South Sudan into financial, property and business
           networks 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;
                 20. 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), and invites the
           High Commissioner for Human Rights to share relevant information with the
           Committee, as appropriate;
                21. Encourages timely information exchange between UNMISS and the Panel
           of Experts, and requests UNMISS to assist the Committee and the Panel of Experts,
           within its mandate and capabilities;
                22. Invites the Revitalised Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission
           (RJMEC) to share relevant information with the Council, as appropriate, on its
           assessment of the parties’ implementation of the Revitalised Agreement, adherence to
           the ACOH, and the facilitation of unhindered and secure humanitarian access;
                23.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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