UN Security Council renews Abyei mission mandate

November 14, 2023 (NEW YORK) – The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday renewed the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in Abyei (UNISFA) till mid-November next year.

Security Council Resolution 2708, which won the unanimous support of the 15 members of the council, also decides to extend the peacekeeping mission’s mandate modification till November 15, 2024.

The Security Council first modified the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in December 2011 to add tasks of supporting a Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism of Sudan and South Sudan, which gained independence from the former in July 2011.

The resolution urges the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support for UNISFA in the implementation of its mandate and deployment of its personnel.

It also reiterates that Abyei shall be demilitarized from any forces, as well as armed elements of the local communities, other than UNISFA and the Abyei Police Service.

The UNISFA was established in 2011 by the Security Council to monitor Abyei border.

(ST)