United Nations Security Council Resolution 2708 – Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan (UNISFA)
Resolution 2708 (2023)
The Security Council,
Reaffirming all previous resolutions and Presidential statements concerning the situation in Abyei and along the border between Sudan and South Sudan and underlining the importance of full compliance with and implementation of these,
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan and South Sudan,
Recognizing that the current situation in Abyei and along the border between Sudan and South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,
Underscoring the importance it places on the safety and security of peacekeepers in the field and the need for the Secretary-General and Troop-and Police-Contributing Countries and Member States to work together to ensure that UNISFA is adequately resourced and all peacekeepers in the field are willing, capable and equipped effectively and safely to implement their mandate,
- Decides to extend until 15 November 2024 the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) as set out in paragraph 2 of resolution 1990 (2011) and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, further decides to extend until 15 November 2024 the tasks of UNISFA as set out in paragraph 3 of resolution 1990 (2011), and further decides that UNISFA should continue to implement that mandate and tasks in accordance with resolutions 2660 (2022), 2630 (2022) and 2609 (2021);
2. Decides to extend until 15 November 2024 UNISFA’s mandate modification set forth in resolution 2024 (2011) and paragraph 1 of resolution 2075 (2012), which provides for UNISFA’s support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), and further decides that UNISFA and the Secretary-General should continue to implement that mandate and tasks in accordance with resolutions 2660 (2022), 2630 (2022) and 2609 (2021);
3. Maintains the authorized troop and police ceilings as set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of resolution 2609 (2021) and expresses its intention to remain seized of the recommendations in the 17 September 2021 letter of the Secretary-General (S/2021/805);
4. Urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to provide full support for UNISFA in the implementation of its mandate and deployment of UNISFA personnel, including to facilitate the smooth functioning of all UNISFA bases and JBVMM teams sites, in line with their primary responsibility as host states and the Status of Forces Agreements, and further reiterates that the Abyei Area shall be demilitarized from any forces, as well as armed elements of the local communities, other than UNISFA and the Abyei Police Service when it is gradually established, and urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan and the local communities to take all necessary steps in this regard;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to inform the Security Council of progress in implementing UNISFA’s mandate as set out in paragraph 34 of resolution 2609 (2021), as well as on progress on the issues described in paragraph 5 of resolution 2630 (2022), with combined written reports provided on 1 May 2024 and 15 October 2024;
6. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
Adopted by the Security Council at its 9474th meeting, on 14 November 2023.
