The fragile security situation in Abyei is further threatened by conflict in Sudan: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan.
Thank you, President, I thank USG Lacroix and Special Envoy Tetteh for their briefings. I welcome the participation of the representatives of Sudan and South Sudan in our meeting today. Let me start by commending UNISFA’s newly re-configured multinational force for its substantial contribution to maintaining peace and security in Abyei.
The UK welcomes the mediation efforts by the Government of South Sudan to address tensions between the Ngok Dinka and Twic Dinka, while noting that the security situation in Abyei remains tense. Violent intercommunal clashes continue to threaten the lives and safety of civilians and peacekeepers.
We are concerned by the continued positioning of the South Sudanese People’s Defence Forces in southern Abyei. We call upon the Government of South Sudan to immediately withdraw its troops in line with its commitments under the 2011 Status of Forces Agreement.
As we’ve heard, the fragile security situation in Abyei is further threatened by the wholly unjustified and brutal conflict being waged by the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. Over 9,000 displaced civilians have entered Abyei since hostilities began, posing further challenges to the already dire humanitarian situation and complex communal tensions. The effective closure of Sudanese airspace has made aerial patrolling impossible. It is crucial that the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) is able to maintain a range of operations in order to deliver its mandate in full.
We call on the warring parties and armed groups in Sudan to urgently facilitate safe supply routes for the JBVMM headquarters and ensure safe passage and freedom of movement for all UN staff.
President, progress towards ending the political gridlock on the future status of Abyei can only be made if all sides in Sudan cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table in good faith.
In the meantime, we urge both the Government of South Sudan and the Sudanese authorities to ensure UNISFA can implement its mandate, in line with their primary responsibility as host states and the Status of Forces Agreements.
Thank you.