Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 8135th Meeting, 14 Dec. 2017, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan"]

S/PRST/2017/25No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 216Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan, published in 2017.

What subjects does this mandate have?

3 topics

Ceasefires Peacemaking South Sudan

What does this mandate say?

7 paragraphs

At the 8135th meeting of the Security Council, held on 14 December 2017, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“As the conflict in South Sudan enters its fifth year, the Security Council expresses continuing deep concern at the political, security, humanitarian, human rights, and economic situation in South Sudan and is deeply concerned about the actions of all parties to the conflict that are perpetuating this, with 7.6 million people now in need of aid, 4 million displaced, and 6 million lacking enough food to feed themselves. The Security Council deeply regrets that the parties have not fully taken the steps called for in the Security Council’s 23 March 2017 Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2017/4), most notably the adherence to the permanent ceasefire and allowing the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need, and demands that all parties immediately do so. The Security Council takes note of the ceasefire initiative by the Government, calls on the Government to adhere to its ceasefire, and urges the opposition to reciprocate.

“The Security Council takes note of the September 2017 mid-term implementation status report of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) and its findings that the parties to the conflict have failed to implement substantive elements of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (the Agreement), and that conditions for credible elections do not presently exist.

“The Security Council expresses its strong support for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) for the Agreement and looks forward to the convening and full inclusivity of such a Forum and substantive progress on the initiative by the end of December. The initiative will need strong, coordinated, and cohesive regional support and the Security Council urges IGAD to continue efforts in this vein. The Security Council strongly urges all parties to engage constructively in the process to revitalize the Agreement, underlines that no party should set pre-conditions to participation, and that there must be cost and consequences for those who undermine the HLRF process. The IGAD HLRF should be truly inclusive, in particular with meaningful participation of women, youth, and the broader South Sudanese civil society. The Security Council takes note of the African Union Peace and Security Council’s communique of 20 September 2017 and agrees that the IGAD HLRF is a unique window of opportunity, but equally a last chance for the parties to achieve sustainable peace and stability in South Sudan. The Security Council also takes note of other potentially complementary regional initiatives.

“The Security Council welcomes the briefing by IGAD Special Envoy Ismail Wais on the report of the Pre-Forum Consultations on the HLRF and his briefing on the important and constructive contributions made by a diverse range of South Sudanese stakeholders as summarized therein, and fully supports his role in the process. As a first priority, the Security Council calls upon all parties to end hostilities as a sign of commitment to the HLRF — as they have pledged to do. Given the briefing by the IGAD Special Envoy the Security Council further urges the parties to agree to monitored, effective, and durable security arrangements to stop the conflict; specific steps to improve the human rights and humanitarian situation, including safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors; the governance arrangements so that all voices in South Sudan are represented; a political process that produces an agreed path to viable elections, including improved security; and timelines for the implementation schedule of the Agreement to reflect the need for a conducive environment for post-transition elections. The Security Council further urges the parties to agree on strong monitoring and enforcement mechanisms so that whatever is agreed through the HLRF is able to be effectively implemented, and there is cost and consequence for those who violate the agreement.

“The Security Council reminds the Government of South Sudan of its stated commitment to cooperating fully with UNMISS, and calls on the Government to honour that commitment. The Security Council notes with deep concern the continuing obstacles that hinder the delivery of vital lifesaving assistance to the South Sudanese people; the Council condemns attacks on national and international humanitarian personnel and compounds, and actions by all parties which have targeted UN and humanitarian workers.

“The Security Council condemns all instances of attacks against civilians and the military use of hospitals and schools, and recalls that the UNMISS mandate includes monitoring, investigating, verifying, and reporting publicly and regularly on abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including those that may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity. The Security Council reiterates that perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable, in order to break the prevailing cycle of impunity.”

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