Americas

Americas

UN Security Council extends length of peacekeeping mission in Abyei region

17 May 2012 20:31 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution here Thursday that renewed the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Abyei border region between Sudan and South Sudan, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

All the 15 members of the council on the maintenance of international peace and security voted in favor of resolution 2047, which "decides to extend for a period of six months, the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)."

Both Sudan and South Sudan have claimed sovereignty over Abyei, which Khartoum took over in May 2011 in response to an attack by the south on an army convoy. The following month, Juba and Khartoum signed an agreement that called on both countries to withdraw their troops from the region.

Resolution 2047 "demands that Sudan and South Sudan urgently finalize the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration, including by resolving the deadlock over senior appointments, and constitute the Abyei Police Service, in accordance with their commitments in the 20 June 2011 agreement."

In resolution 2046, passed May 2 of 2012, the council reemphasized the importance of both Sudan and South Sudan withdrawing their troops.

Thursdayâ€™s council resolution reiterates the need for total withdrawal and "welcomes the redeployment of South Sudanese military and police personnel from the Abyei area, in compliance with resolution 2046, and demands the government of Sudan redeploy all remaining military and police personnel from the Abyei area immediately and without preconditions."

An estimated 700 South Sudan Police Service (SSPS) withdrew from Abyei following orders issued May 10.

Resolution 2047 emphasized that "improved 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."

After the resolution was passed, representatives from both Khartoum and Juba told the press outside the council chambers that they are open to negotiations on Abyei.

"We confirm our willingness to resume negotiations with Sudan on these and other topics immediately, and we welcome President Mbekiâ€™s efforts to restart the talks process," said Francis Nazario, permanent representative of South Sudan to the UN.

Nazario added that his country stands "ready to continue cooperation with the council, the UN peacekeeping missions, the African Union, and regional partners" in support of peace and stability in the region.

Idris Ismail Faragalla Hassan, deputy permanent representative of Sudan to the UN told reporters that he has sent a letter to the current Security Council president reiterating Sudanâ€™s strong intentions to maintain its "international commitments regarding relations with the south."

"What happened is that the government of South Sudan took a piecemeal approach, not the comprehensive approach that the government of Sudan is calling for," he said.