The United Nations Security Council on Thursday renewed the mandate of its interim security force in Abyei (UNISFA), a region contested by Sudan and South Sudan for six months.
Resolution 2630, acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and recognizing that the situation in Abyei constitutes a threat to international peace and security, extended the mission’s mandate until 15 November.
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 (JBVMM) of Sudan and South Sudan, which gained independence from the former in July 2011.
Security Council Resolution 2630 also decided that UNISFA should maintain the authorized troop ceiling at 3,250 and authorized police ceiling at 640.
It urged the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support for UNISFA to implement its mandate and deployment personnel, reiterating that Abyei shall be demilitarized from any forces and armed elements of local communities, other than UNISFA and Abyei Police Service.
The UN interim force for the disputed area was set up by the Security Council in June 2011 following tensions between Sudan and South Sudan.
Meanwhile the Security Council also extended, until 15 November 2022, the mandate modification laid out in resolution 2024 (2011) and paragraph 1 of resolution 2075 (2012), providing for UNISFA’s support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, established to conduct monitoring and verification activities along the border between Sudan and South Sudan.
Source: Sudan Tribune