Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Sérgio França Danese, em reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre a Situação em Abyei (UNISFA) - 6 de novembro de 2023 (texto em inglês)
Statement by the Permanent Representative, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, at the UNSC briefing on the situation in Abyei and the activities of UNISFA
November 6th, 2023
Mister President,
I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix and Special Envoy Tetteh for their comprehensive briefings. I welcome Sudan and South Sudan to this meeting.
Mister President,
Fighting in Sudan continues to affect the lives of Abyei’s population. Pressing security concerns caused by almost six months of armed conflict have pushed aside interactions that could help both parties find common grounds on border issues. The lack of tangible bilateral developments since April interrupts the positive momentum built in prior years and dashes the hopes for a solution for Abyei’s final status in the short term. Another effect of prolonged conflict in Sudan is the danger of rising intercommunal tensions in Abyei.
We welcome UNISFA’s endeavors to strengthen the mission-wide early warning system and commend how the mission has effectively integrated inputs from community protection committees. Brazil fully supports UNISFA’s efforts to promote peace initiatives, such as the process between the Ngok Dinka and the Twic Dinka. We commend the contribution of South Sudan in addressing the conflict between these two communities and hope it leads to further reduction in violence.
We acknowledge that the Transhumance Corridors Conference last June provided essential lessons for peaceful cohabitation. Leaders from the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities displayed encouraging signs of constructive dialogue.
We echo the Secretary-General’s appeal to ensure meaningful participation of women in these peace efforts.
Mister President,
Complete demilitarization of Abyei is yet to be achieved. Security forces from both countries remain mobilized in the area, violating the 2011 Temporary Arrangements, endangering the peaceful cohabitation of local communities. We call on Sudan and South Sudan to make progress toward demilitarizing Abyei. Such action would entail greater trust between the two governments and enable safe movement for both the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism and UNISFA personnel who work in Abyei and the surrounding areas.
We also encourage Sudan and South Sudan to prioritize the establishment of the Abyei Police Service. We call on both governments to take advantage of the support the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development can provide on this front.
While the UN police have provided essential services to local communities, the Abyei Police Service and local police personnel would be better equipped to address several issues with a higher degree of local ownership and legitimacy.
Strides towards establishing the Abyei Police Service would enable UNISFA to focus on the valuable capacity-building initiatives that the Abyei population needs the most.
Mister President,
The security context in Abyei has remained unstable despite reductions in intercommunal fighting. UNISFA thus needs all our support to implement a mandate that remains essential for the people of Abyei.
Thank you.