S/PV.7989 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Sudan to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2017/513, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2017/437, which contains the special report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the strategic review of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2363 (2017). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting.

The United Kingdom welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2363 (2017) today. I thank all members of the Security Council for their support over the past week since we began work to update the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). This resolution makes important changes to the mission. We have done that because the Council has a responsibility to respond to changes on the ground. Whether in Darfur or anywhere else, our missions must be mandated to work in the world as it is today and not just how it once was, and that is what this resolution achieves. We recognize that the Council must make changes sensibly and responsibly. That is why the text of the resolution ensures that UNAMID will remain able to deliver the core task of its mandate — protecting civilians from harm. In the coming days and weeks, we will be monitoring the impact of those changes to UNAMID’s mandate. The resolution increases the frequency of reporting from 90 to 60 days and includes an assessment after six months, which must consider the impact of the changes on the ground. This is a joint endeavour. The Government of the Sudan also bears responsibility in making these changes work. It is vital that they step up, that they let the mission operate and that they fill the gaps following UNAMID’s withdrawal. Cooperation between the Government and the mission has improved. We now need to see that positive trajectory continue. The Council will be monitoring that closely as the changes are implemented. In conclusion, let me assure those outside this Chamber that we recognize that the situation in Darfur remains fragile. Nevertheless, we cannot shy away from the fact that the situation has evolved and that it is right that UNAMID be adapted so as to reflect the current reality. We will not be taking our eyes off Darfur. The continuation of UNAMID under a new mandate, with more oversight from the Council, demonstrates our commitment both to the people of Darfur and to the region.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.

Allow me to express our thanks and appreciation to all the members of the Security Council, with whom we have been communicating since the United Kingdom first proposed resolution 2263 (2017), which extends the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). I should also like to extend my thanks to the Secretary-General and to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for their recommendations in their joint report (S/2017/437) on UNAMID. Developments in the five states of Darfur over the past reporting periods cannot be denied or overlooked. We have consistently conveyed in all our statements and letters to the Security Council and to the Secretary- General that, since 2015, Darfur has been enjoying great security and stability, and that the humanitarian situation is completely stable. In assessing the political, humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, we do not rely on documents that have been produced for various forums. We possess sufficient evidence of our own in that regard. We fully rely on the reality on the ground, which was acknowledged by the Council in resolution 2340 (2017), adopted in February. This continuous improvement prompted our Government to call on the Secretary-General to develop and implement a progressive and phased withdrawal strategy Darfur today is completely devoid of any armed groups, which had wreaked havoc in Darfur beginning in 2003. The military operations of the Sudanese Armed Forces and other actors launched in May have shielded Darfur against all attempts threatening security and peace there. We therefore stress our readiness, through our various institutions, to protect the security and the stability of our citizens and safeguard our gains. As members know, the international community has been sharing a great burden with us in the Sudan so as to consolidate internal peace. We had therefore hoped that the resolution would stress the holding of an international donor conference on Darfur as recommended by the African Union Council for Peace and Security on 12 June, so as to complement the donor conference held in Doha in April 2013. The rebel forces’ attempts to undermine security and stability in Darfur through planning attacks on the northern, western and southern borders must not be repeated. Such attacks remain the only threat to peace in Darfur. Members will have noted our efforts to make the resolution coherent and responsive to the situation on the ground in Darfur today. That is reflected in the special report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the strategic review. In fact, it focused on the return of peace and security in Darfur. The very clear statement issued on 12 June by the African Union Peace and Security Council highlighted the same conclusions reached during our consultations with all of the members of the Security Council. We stress the fact that resolution 2363 (2017) to renew the mission’s mandate was adopted by consensus. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank all of the members of the Council for giving us the time to explain our position. The difficulties faced by our Government to restore stability and security in the region requires immediate action by the international community to provide support in all its forms to solve the problem. We have reminded the Council, time and again, that our Government has designed a three-phase plan to address the issue of displacement and that it requires the support of the international community. I would also like to point out that there is some confusion about the definition of the term “displacement”. That term, which is familiar to all, does not apply to the majority of displaced people in Darfur. Those people are now productive members of society and do not require urgent humanitarian assistance. With a bit of effort, we can turn displaced people who were formerly in need into a productive labour force that supports our economy. We are all well aware of the importance of providing UNAMID with the capacity for mobility and access after the Council mandated a 44 per cent drawdown of Operation forces so that the mission could shoulder its responsibility effectively. I therefore stress our determination and readiness, through all our institutions, to cooperate with UNAMID and enable it to fully deliver on its mandate. The sacrifices and efforts made by UNAMID in Darfur to anchor peace and stability have always been appreciated by our people. This uniquely structured mission has contributed to the return of normalcy and security in Darfur, which were made possible by the great efforts of its soldiers.I would also like to thank all the troop- and police-contributing countries that assisted in carrying out the mandate. I hope, Mr. President, that the Council will heed my words when it comes to this important phase of implementing the mission’s exit strategy, which is clearly based upon the return of security and peace in Darfur. With regard to the ongoing review to be conducted in short intervals, I believe that justice and fairness call for that review to be completely transparent. It must include the participation of the Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the two mechanisms that were established and agreed upon — the Joint Working group and the Tripartite Mechanism. On this occasion, I should like to express my support for resolution 2363 (2017) and would like to thank His Excellency Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo, Joint Special Representative and Head of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel. In conclusion, the Security Council, the main organ with the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, has the right to celebrate today’s joint achievement. It was initiated by my Government, which played a major role by prioritizing its responsibility to protect civilians, while preserving our national sovereignty. At this very difficult time, marked by heightened regional tensions, desertification, the spread of small arms and light weapons, human trafficking and terrorist attacks, we must commend what has been achieved. The African Union has reaped the fruit of its efforts. It has paid great attention to the issue of peace and security on the continent. We may recall the wisdom of the Government of the Sudan, prior to the adoption of resolution 1769 (2007), when it sought to make the peacekeeping mission a United Nations-African Union hybrid mission, with Africa making the greatest contribution. The African component of the mission constitutes the majority of the peacekeeping force. Once again, we reiterate our gratitude to you, Sir, and, through you, to all of the members of the Council. I underscore that we will remain committed to serving the cause of peace in my country and throughout the world.