The Sentinel
Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health :: Education :: Heritage Stewardship ::
Sustainable Development
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The Sentinel will resume publication on 20 August 2016 following annual leave for the Editor.
Editor’s Note
While on annual leave, we could not help but take note of yesterday’s [12 August 2016] Security Council action on South Sudan, both extending and expanding the peacekeeping force there.
In exercise of its Chapter VII authority – and over the objection of South Sudan – the Security Council resolution below (see especially bolded text by Editor] authorized the “use all necessary means, including undertaking robust action where necessary and actively patrolling, to accomplish the Regional Protection Force’s mandate.” The resolution further enjoins the Regional Protection Force to “…promptly and effectively engage any actor that is credibly found to be preparing attacks, or engages in attacks, against United Nations protection of civilians sites, other United Nations premises, United Nations personnel, international and national humanitarian actors, or civilians…”
The representative of South Sudan [argued] “The adoption of this resolution goes against the basic principle of United Nations peacekeeping operations, which is the consent of the main parties to the conflict,” he said, noting that the text had contradicted the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States, principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Recalling that his delegation had provided an official response on the mandate adopted today, he said that the text did not take into account or even consider the views of his Government. “
Most extraordinary…
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Security Council Extends Mission in South Sudan, Authorizes Expanded Peacekeeping Force to Bolster Civilian Protection Efforts – Adopting Resolution 2304 (2016)
SC/12475
12 August 2016
Security Council 7754th Meeting (PM)
The Security Council today renewed the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 30 June 2017, authorizing the expansion of peacekeeping forces and stressing the priority of civilian protection in its mandate.
Adopting resolution 2304 (2016) by 11 votes in favour to none against, with 4 abstentions (China, Egypt, Senegal, Venezuela), the 15-member Council demanded that all parties immediately put an end to fighting and that the leaders implement the permanent ceasefire declared in the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.
Condemning in the strongest terms the recent fighting in Juba, the Council further demanded that the Transitional Government of National Unity comply with its international obligations and immediately cease obstructing UNMISS and other humanitarian actors in performing their mandates. It requested that the Secretary-General identify options to enhance the safety and security of Mission personnel.
The Council decided that UNMISS should include a regional protection force, established for an initial period until 15 December 2016, to be based in Juba, tasked with the responsibility of providing a secure environment. In order to advance cooperation with the Transitional Government and to create an enabling environment for the Agreement’s implementation, the Council authorized the force to use all necessary means to accomplish its mandate.
By the text, the Council decided to increase the force levels of UNMISS up to a ceiling of 17,000 troops, including 4,000 for the Regional Protection Force, and requested that the Secretary-General take necessary steps to expedite force and asset generation. The Council recognized that full and unrestricted freedom of movement was essential for the force to carry out its tasks and demanded that the Government provide support as needed.
The Council also requested that the Secretary-General provide detailed information within 30 days on force generation, restructuring the UNMISS force, logistical support and civilian personnel and whether the Transitional Government had maintained its consent to the force’s deployment.
The Council decided that in case of political or operational impediments to operationalizing the force or obstructions to UNMISS in performing its mandate, within five days, the body should consider appropriate measures. They included measures described in Annex A of the draft resolution, particularly an arms embargo…
…The representative of South Sudan [noted] “The adoption of this resolution goes against the basic principle of United Nations peacekeeping operations, which is the consent of the main parties to the conflict,” he said, noting that the text had contradicted the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States, principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Recalling that his delegation had provided an official response on the mandate adopted today, he said that the text did not take into account or even consider the views of his Government.”…
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Resolution
The full text of resolution 2304 (2016) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling its previous resolutions 1996 (2011), 2046 (2012), 2057 (2012), 2109 (2013), 2132 (2013), 2155 (2014), 2187 (2014), 2206 (2015), 2223 (2015), 2241 (2015), 2252 (2015), and 2302 (2016) and statements by its President S/PRST/2014/16, S/PRST/2014/26, S/PRST/2015/9, S/PRST/2016/1, and S/PRST/2016/3,
“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of the Republic of South Sudan, and recalling the importance of the principles of non-interference, good-neighbourliness, and regional cooperation,
“Reiterating its grave alarm and concern regarding the political, security, economic, and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, resulting from the internal Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) political dispute, and subsequent violence caused by the country’s political and military leaders since December 2013, and emphasizing there can be no military solution to the situation in South Sudan and noting the “Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan” as the framework for durable peace, reconciliation and national cohesion in South Sudan,
“Condemning in the strongest terms the fighting in Juba, South Sudan 8-11 July 2016, including attacks against civilians, United Nations personnel, premises and property, and requesting the Secretary-General expedite investigation into these attacks, expressing deep concern at the tense and fragile security situation in the rest of the country, including armed clashes and violence involving the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and SPLA-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), and armed groups, reminding all parties of the civilian character of protection of civilians sites in South Sudan, and recalling resolution 2206 (2015), which states in part that those who engage in attacks against United Nations missions, international security presences, or other peacekeeping operations, or humanitarian personnel may be subject to sanctions,
“Further condemning the clashes that took place at the United Nations Protection of Civilians site in Malakal, South Sudan on 17-18 February, and requesting the United Nations Secretariat to ensure that the lessons learned from that incident are applied in the future operation of the mission,
“Commending the work of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), and noting with concern that the extensive resources needed to protect civilians at the United Nations Protection of Civilians sites has limited UNMISS’s presence outside the United Nations Protection of Civilians sites,
“Condemning the continued obstruction of UNMISS by the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan, including severe restrictions on freedom of movement and constraints on mission operations which may be in violation of its obligations under the Status of Forces Agreement,
“Strongly condemning all human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those involving extrajudicial killings, ethnically targeted violence, rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, recruitment and use of children, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, violence aimed at spreading terror among the civilian population, targeting of members of civil society, and attacks on schools, places of worship, hospitals, and United Nations and associated personnel, by all parties, including armed groups and national security forces, as well as the incitement to commit such abuses and violations, further condemning harassment and targeting of civil society, humanitarian personnel and journalists, and emphasizing that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable, and that South Sudan’s Transitional Government of National Unity bears the primary responsibility to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity,
“Taking note of the decisions adopted by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Plus Heads of State and Government in their 16 July 2016 Communique for deployment of a “regional protection force,” the African Union Assembly 18 July 2016 communique endorsing the IGAD Plus Heads of State and Government 16 July 2016 communique, and the 5 August 2016 Communique of the Second IGAD Plus Extra-Ordinary Summit on the Situation in South Sudan which notes the Transitional Government of National Unity’s consent to deployment of such a force in principle and welcoming the readiness expressed by member states in the region to increase their contribution of troops to UNMISS for this purpose,
“Encouraging countries in the region, the African Union Peace and Security Council, and IGAD to continue firmly engaging with South Sudanese leaders to address the current political crisis,
“Determining that the situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,
“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
“1. Demands that all parties immediately end the fighting throughout South Sudan, and further demands that South Sudan’s leaders implement the permanent ceasefire declared in the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (Agreement) and ceasefires for which they respectively called on 11 July 2016, and ensure that subsequent decrees and orders directing their commanders control their forces and protect civilians and their property are fully implemented;
“2. Demands that the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan comply with the obligations set out in the Status of Forces Agreement between the Government of South Sudan and the United Nations, and immediately cease obstructing UNMISS in the performance of its mandate, and further demands the Transitional Government of National Unity immediately cease obstructing international and national humanitarian actors from assisting civilians, and facilitate freedom of movement for the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism and calls on the Transitional Government of National Unity to take action, to deter, and to hold those responsible to account for, any hostile or other actions that impede UNMISS or international and national humanitarian actors;
“3. Urges the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), UNMISS, and the parties to the Agreement to convene a Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements workshop in Juba to determine by 31 August 2016 the maximum number, type and armaments of security forces to remain in Juba and to assist in executing and verifying the redeployment of those forces and armaments to agreed locations by 15 September 2016 and further urges the IGAD, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, UNMISS and the parties to the Agreement to review the status of the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission, the CTSAMM, the Joint Operations Center, the Joint Integrated Police, the Strategic Defense and Security Review, the National Architecture, cantonment, and the unification of forces and to develop revised proposals to ensure their efficacy by 30 September 2016;
“4. Decides to extend the UNMISS mandate, as set out in resolution 2252 (2015), until 15 December 2016, and authorizes UNMISS to use all necessary means to carry out its tasks;
“5. Emphasizes that protection of civilians must be given priority in decisions about the use of available capacity and resources within the mission, stresses that UNMISS’s mandate as set out in paragraph 8 of resolution 2252 (2015) includes authority to use all necessary means to protect United Nations personnel, installations and equipment to deter violence especially through proactive deployment and active patrolling, to protect civilians from threats, regardless of source, to create conditions conducive to delivery of humanitarian assistance by international and national actors, and support implementation the Agreement, and stresses that such actions include, but are not limited to, within UNMISS’s capacity and areas of deployment, defending protection of civilians sites, establishing areas around the sites that are not used for hostile purposes by any forces, addressing threats to the sites, searching individuals attempting to enter the sites, and seizing weapons from those inside or attempting to enter the sites, removing from and denying entry of armed actors to the protection of civilians sites;
“6. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps and, in consultation with troop and police contributing countries, to identify options, including seeking the support of Member States, to enhance the safety and security of UNMISS’s personnel to enable UNMISS to execute effectively its mandate in a complex security environment, including through improving UNMISS’s early warning, surveillance, and information gathering capacities, enhancing quick response and crisis management capacity, including providing appropriate training and equipment, implementing more effective casualty and medical evacuation procedures, and taking active and effective steps to improve the planning and functioning of UNMISS’s safety and security facilities and arrangements;
“7. Recalls its resolution 2086 (2013) and reaffirms the basic principles of peacekeeping, as set forth in Presidential Statement S/PRST/2015/22, including consent of the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force, except in self-defence and defence of the mandate, and recognizes that the mandate of each peacekeeping mission is specific to the need and situation of the country concerned;
“8. Decides further that UNMISS shall include, consistent with paragraph 7 above, a Regional Protection Force established for an initial period until 15 December 2016, which will report to the overall UNMISS Force Commander, to be based in Juba, with the responsibility of providing a secure environment in and around Juba, including in support of the outcomes of the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Workshop, and in extremis in other parts of South Sudan as necessary, and stresses that the Regional Protection Force will carry out its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 10, impartially and in strict compliance with international law, including, as applicable, international humanitarian law;
“9. Stresses the critical importance that the Regional Protection Force has a clear, conditions-based exit strategy and express its intent to consider the presence of the Regional Protection Force in light of the changing situation on the ground;
“10. To advance in cooperation with the Transitional Government of National Unity the safety and security of the people of South Sudan and to create an enabling environment for implementation of the Agreement, authorizes the Regional Protection Force to use all necessary means, including undertaking robust action where necessary and actively patrolling, to accomplish the Regional Protection Force’s mandate, to:
(a) Facilitate the conditions for safe and free movement into, out of, and around Juba, including through protecting the means of ingress and egress from the city and major lines of communication and transport within Juba;
(b) Protect the airport to ensure the airport remains operational, and protect key facilities in Juba essential to the well-being of the people of Juba, as identified by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General;
(c) Promptly and effectively engage any actor that is credibly found to be preparing attacks, or engages in attacks, against United Nations protection of civilians sites, other United Nations premises, United Nations personnel, international and national humanitarian actors, or civilians;
“11. Requests the Regional Protection Force to carry out these tasks as determined by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, recognizes that full and unrestricted freedom of movement is essential for the Regional Protection Force to carry out these tasks and demands the government provide support as needed for the Regional Protection Force to fulfill its mission and calls upon IGAD countries to continue to insist that the South Sudanese fulfil their commitments in this regard;
“12. Notes consultations between the Transitional Government of National Unity and the states of the region referenced in the 5 August 2016 Communique of the Second IGAD Plus Extra-Ordinary Summit on the Situation in South Sudan, expresses its intention to review the results of these consultations and to consider potential action, including any appropriate updates to the mandate of the Regional Protection Force, arising from the results of those consultations;
“13. Urges member states in the region to expedite contributions of rapidly deployable troops to ensure the full deployment of the Regional Protection Force as soon as possible;
“14. Decides to increase the force levels of UNMISS up to a ceiling of 17,000 troops, including 4,000 for the Regional Protection Force, and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to expedite force and asset generation;
“15. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen UNMISS’s strategic communications capacity to undertake messaging on the ongoing impartial nature of UNMISS activities, including those of its Regional Protection Force;
Reports
“16. Requests that the Secretary-General provide detailed information within 30 days on force generation, restructuring of the UNMISS force, logistical support and enablers, and civilian personnel to implement the mandate, as well as whether the Transitional Government of National Unity has maintained its consent in principle to deployment of the Regional Protection Force and not imposed any political or operational impediments to operationalizing the Regional Protection Force or obstructed UNMISS in the performance of its mandate, and requests the Secretary-General to review needs on the ground, and provide an updated assessment of the Regional Protection Force’s operations, deployment, and future requirements, as well as any political or operational impediments to operationalizing the Regional Protection Force and obstructions to UNMISS in performance of its mandate, within 30 days after the adoption of this resolution, and every 30 days thereafter;
“17. Decides that if in any of the reports pursuant to paragraph 16 above the Secretary General reports political or operational impediments to operationalizing the Regional Protection Force or obstructions to UNMISS in performance of its mandate, due to the actions of the Transitional Government of National Unity, within five days of receipt of such report it shall consider appropriate measures including those measures described in the draft resolution in Annex ;
“18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council on implementation of the UNMISS mandate including UNMISS’ Regional Protection Force, and to present the recommendations on the steps to adapt UNMISS to the situation on the ground and to increase efficiency of the implementation of its mandate in a comprehensive written report covering issues including strengthening safety and security of United Nations personnel and facilities to be submitted within 90 days of the date of adoption of this resolution, and further expresses its intention to consider the Secretary-General’s recommendations within the context of the next UNMISS mandate extension;
“19. Decides to remain seized of the matter.”
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David R. Curry
Editor &
Founding Managing Director
GE2P2 Global Foundation – Center for Governance, Evidence, Ethics, Policy, Practice
david.r.curry@ge2p2center.net
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