S/PV.9070 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. At this meeting, the Council will hear a briefing by His Excellency Mr. Harold Adlai Agyeman, Permanent Representative of Ghana, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005), concerning the Sudan. I now give the floor to Ambassador Agyeman. Mr. Agyeman: In accordance with paragraph 3 (a) (iv) of resolution 1591 (2005), I have the honour to brief the Security Council on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005), concerning the Sudan, on the period from 29 March to today. During the reporting period, the Committee met once in informal consultations and received the first quarterly update of the Panel of Experts on the Sudan. On 8 April, the Committee had a briefing by the Panel of Experts on the Sudan on its programme of work for the period 2022 to 2023. The Coordinator provided the Committee with an overview of the Panel’s intended areas of investigation and monitoring in accordance with the mandates, as extended until 12 March 2023 by resolution 2620 (2022). On 14 April, the Committee issued a press release (SC/14863) regarding that briefing. On 3 June, the Panel of Experts on the Sudan submitted its first quarterly update to the Committee. The Panel updated us on the pace of the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement, regional dynamics, the status of the armed groups in the region, intercommunal violence and reported violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. I would like to bring to the attention of the Council the following points from the Panel’s report. The Panel reported that the significant development in the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement was the ongoing training of approximately 2,000 members of the signatory armed movements in El Fasher, which would form part of the security-keeping force established in accordance with the Juba Peace Agreement. The Panel informed the Committee on the security situation in Darfur, including on the intercommunal violence and the situation in West Darfur, where some elements of the Juba Peace Agreement clashed in March and April. In terms of regional dynamics, the Panel reported that the regional context remained largely favourable to the peace process in Darfur and that all the neighbouring States continue to support the Juba Peace Agreement and its implementation. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the sanctions regime was established for the sole purpose of helping to bring peace to Darfur. Its purpose is not to punish the Sudan but to support the attainment of sustainable peace. In resolution 2620 (2022), the Council expresses its intention to consider, by 31 August 2022, establishing clear, well-identified and realistic key benchmarks, with readiness to consider adjusting relevant measures to respond to the situation in Darfur in the light of the evolving situation on the ground. The 1591 Committee reiterates its commitment to working together with the Sudan and all the relevant stakeholders to make that a reality.

I thank Ambassador Agyeman for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

We took note of the report of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan covering the past 90 days, which was presented by Mr. Harold Agyeman, Permanent Representative of Ghana. We welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of the Sudan in this meeting. The sanctions against the Sudan were imposed by the Security Council to peacefully resolve the armed conflict in Darfur. The Security Council thereby sought to compel the Darfur insurgents and the Government of the Sudan to fully implement their obligations under the agreements reached in Ndjamena, Abuja and Nairobi in 2004 and 2005. The situation in the country and Darfur has changed significantly since the adoption, 17 years ago, of resolution 1591 (2005), partly thanks to the work of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur from 2007 to 2021. Following the conclusion of the Juba Peace Agreement, which was initialled in August 2020, State-building and the social and economic development of Darfur have become the priorities. The establishment of a joint security force, composed of members of the groups that signed the agreement, is intended to bring lasting stability to the region, strengthen the rule of law and curb outbreaks of violence there. Against that backdrop, the Security Council sanctions have lost their purpose and no longer serve the political process. The sanctions are also hampering the Sudanese Government’s efforts in the region and preventing it from supplying the security force that is being established with the necessary weapons and equipment. It is no coincidence that the Government of the Sudan has repeatedly raised the issue of lifting the arms embargo against its country, but the Security Council has not responded to those appeals. The continuation of the sanctions measures against the Sudan and attempts to undermine the previous decisions of the Security Council regarding the benchmarks for reviewing the arms embargo strengthen our conviction that that is done in order to exert political pressure, regardless of the consequences for ordinary Sudanese people. The adoption of resolution 2620 (2022) on 15 February established a new deadline of 31 August of this year for formulating clear and realistic benchmarks with the aim of reviewing the measures regarding the Sudan. We hope that, in the course of the process and through constructive dialogue, the Security Council will make it possible to fulfil that task.

(spoke in Chinese): China thanks Ambassador Agyeman of Ghana, the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan, for his briefing and welcomes the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to today’s meeting. The Darfur region of the Sudan is at a critical stage of transitioning from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. Its security situation is largely stable but remains fragile, with some violent incidents, including occasional intercommunal clashes. China applauds the efforts of the Sovereignty Council for maintaining stability in Darfur. After the withdrawal of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, the Government of the Sudan has assumed the primary responsibility for protection of civilians. The Council should make timely adjustments to the sanctions on the Sudan in the light of the evolving situation and create conditions that will enable the Government to strengthen its capacity to protect civilians. Resolution 2620 (2022) calls for the establishment of clear, well-defined and realistic benchmarks for adjusting the sanctions on the Sudan by 31 August, and China hopes that those requirements can be implemented in a timely manner.

I want to thank Ambassador Agyeman for his useful quarterly update on the activities of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan. The United States would like to reiterate its full support for the Sudanese-led political process to resolve the crisis that followed the October 2021 military takeover. We fully endorse the facilitation of that process by the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS), the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to resolve the crisis. The United States stands with the Sudanese people in their pursuit of a democratic and prosperous Sudan that fully respects human rights. Progress in Darfur is inextricably linked to the re-establishment of a civilian- led transitional Government, but the situation in Darfur remains volatile and dangerous. The increasing violence has exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation on the ground and endangers the potential of the Juba Peace Agreement to contribute effectively to a sustainable peace in Darfur. Concrete steps are also needed to ensure justice and accountability for the victims in Darfur and the Two Areas. Transparent and inclusive transitional justice processes are essential components of any durable peace in Darfur. We condemn the increased violence and its impact on civilians, including the most recent violence in West Darfur, which led to the displacement of an estimated 125,000 people. That is simply unacceptable. An urgent investigation must identify and hold accountable those responsible. Those troubling events demonstrate the urgent need for the protection of civilians, inclusive security-sector reform and the establishment of robust international monitoring and reporting mechanisms. The Sudanese authorities are responsible for civilian security in the region and must address the root causes of violence. Unfortunately, the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement is significantly behind schedule. We note the modest progress made so far, including in operationalizing the Permanent Ceasefire Committee, as well as the ongoing steps to deploy the joint security- keeping forces in Darfur. Delays in implementing the Juba Peace Agreement contribute to insecurity. We therefore call on the Sudanese authorities and the armed movement signatories to redouble their efforts. The Juba Peace Agreement signatories must bring back their fighters from abroad and engage in the Sudan’s disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process. The United States supports the recommendation of the Panel of Experts of the Sanctions Committee that the Sudanese Government should establish the DDR Commission with branch offices in the five states of Darfur and provide it with adequate capacity and resources. We are committed to continuing close collaboration within the Security Council with UNITAMS, the AU and other key stakeholders to promote peace and security in Darfur.

I would like to start by thanking Ambassador Agyeman, Permanent Representative of Ghana, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan, for his briefing on the Committee’s activities. It has been 17 years since a drastic sanctions regime was imposed on the Sudan, restricting the capacity of the national security forces at a time when the country has been facing the hordes of armed groups, most of them equipped from the Libyan arsenal, that are plaguing the entire Sahel-Saharan region. I believe it is high time and crucial that the Council’s actions align with the aspirations of the Sudanese people and their desire to live in full security. On the political front, the Council meeting dedicated to the Sudan and South Sudan held on 28 March (see S/PV.9006) highlighted the lack of significant progress made in the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement of 3 October 2020, as stated in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2022/172). However, one notable event was the training of approximately 2,000 members of signatory armed movements in El Fasher. Those elements should join the security-keeping forces in line with article 29 of chapter 8 of the Juba Peace Agreement. The effective implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement, which the international community has called for in the light of its real prospects of achieving comprehensive peace in the Sudan, and which is considered an essential step towards a peaceful, stable, democratic and prosperous future for the country, is being hindered by both internal and external factors. Among the obstacles standing in the way of the Juba Peace Agreement’s implementation in the Sudan is the fact that a number of regional and international partners have made no financial contributions. Nor should we omit to mention the issue of intercommunal violence, particularly in Darfur, as well as other areas of the country. The fact is that the security situation in the Sudan today continues to be very worrying, and we must therefore continue to urge the international community to provide support to the Sudanese Government in order to accelerate the process of implementing the Juba Peace Agreement, as well as the National Plan for the Protection of Civilians. Besides that, the implementation of a number of aspects of the Juba Peace Agreement, particularly those relating to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, requires the provision of substantial organizational, logistic and financial resources. That is why we are urging the international community to help realize that effort in a spirit of solidarity. That support would undoubtedly help to restore peace in the Sudan, as well as guaranteeing stability in the region. It is important to recognize that despite the intercommunal clashes I mentioned, which have led to violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, hope continues to prevail across large swathes of the country. The fact is that we are seeing a genuine peace in much of the country, where the clashes between the Sudanese armed forces and the armed groups that are not party to the Peace Agreement have ceased. We should also emphasize that the sanctions regime, which was established to help the Sudan, cannot and must not become a cure that is worse than the disease. The Council must fully appreciate the genuine value of the positive progress that has been made while bearing in mind the need to assess and adjust the measures in place in line with developments in the situation on the ground, in accordance with paragraph 5 of resolution 2620 (2022).

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

At the outset, I would like to congratulate your country, Madam President, on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of June, and to express our appreciation to the United States for presiding over the Security Council last month. I also want to thank the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan for his briefing on the quarterly report on the work of the Sanctions Committee. For the past few years, the Sudan has always asserted its firm position on the sanctions imposed on it under resolution 1591 (2005) and subsequent Security Council resolutions. Our position is that those sanctions no longer reflect the situation on the ground in Darfur as compared with 2005, when they were first imposed, at a time when there was a different regime in power, with different policies and directives. Darfur was ultimately able to deal with the war, as well as its previous political and security challenges, which was why the Council took the decision to end the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2020. UNAMID’s mandate was to protect civilians. The few intercommunal clashes that continue in Darfur do not undermine the fact that the overall situation in Darfur continues to improve and that the Government is determined to resolve any remaining social and security challenges, such as the intermittent intercommunal clashes. Clashes of that kind could occur in any country, regardless of its status or location. I would like to state here that the Government of the Sudan is fully coordinating its efforts with its partners in the peace process to implement the provisions of the Juba Peace Agreement, in spite of our limited national resources. In that regard, the training of the first group of forces of movements that are parties to the Agreement is under way. Some 2,000 troops of those armed groups are now being trained. They will make up the first group of the security force protecting civilians in Darfur and will be the first set of troops of the joint force responsible for maintaining security in Darfur. There will be 12,000 of them, distributed evenly between Government forces and the forces of groups that are parties to the Peace Agreement. The training of that first group is an essential step in implementing the security arrangements, which were previously delayed because of a lack of international funding and donors who did not keep their promises. However, the armed factions responded positively to the decisions taken at the meeting of the Joint Supreme Council for Security Arrangements held in El Fasher in March, including on issues relating to weapons collection in the towns and major cities of states, as well as on bringing together the forces of armed groups in areas outside cities. I should clarify here that according to the provisions of the Juba Peace Agreement, the Government is facilitating the work in Darfur of the Permanent Ceasefire Committee, chaired by the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS). It is important to note that the Government is committed to upholding the ceasefire and silencing the guns even with parties that are not signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement, with a view to building trust and encouraging them to join a lasting and comprehensive peace process. We underscore that the transitional Government has demonstrated its firm political will to implement the provisions of the Juba Peace Agreement regarding security arrangements and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, as well as establishing and deploying a joint force for the protection of civilians. The goal is to strengthen and promote security in Darfur. We should stress in that regard that these are difficult and complex tasks, and the Government of the Sudan will be unable to achieve them alone. We therefore call on the international community to share that burden by providing us with the necessary financial and technical assistance. UNITAMS has also a major role in that regard. The Sudan is determined to continue its efforts to improve the security situation in Darfur by implementing the Juba Peace Agreement and collecting unauthorized weapons. It will also do so by improving accountability and justice and implementing a national plan for the protection of civilians, with the participation of the parties to the Juba Peace Agreement. And we will work to negotiate with the Abdul Wahid Mohamed Al-Nour movement to advance the peace process. The situation in Darfur has changed. We have moved from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. It is a transition in which we hope to receive the support of the international community so that the transitional Government can restore peace, security and stability to the region. The lifting of the sanctions imposed under resolution 1591 (2005) and the related resolutions will enable the Sudanese Government to rebuild the capacity of its security forces and law-enforcement agencies to maintain and promote peace not only in Darfur but the entire region. It is a vast region, with long borders where transnational organized crime groups are pursuing activities that include trafficking in persons and weapons and other transnational crimes. Sanctions have a direct and negative impact on the stabilization process. That is why we believe that it is crucial to lift the sanctions immediately. Comprehensive studies conducted in 2013 showed that targeted sanctions regimes failed to make a difference for the targeted populations. Their success rate does not exceed 10 per cent, with a ceiling of 28 per cent when it comes to changing negative behaviour. Where support for the international normative frameworks is concerned, sanctions have a success rate of only 27 per cent. We also want to stress that the Sudanese Government has not breached the arms embargo, despite the impact that it had on our national security. The situation in the Sudan in 2005 was considered a threat to international peace and security and therefore required subsequent extensions of the sanctions resolution. The current situation is no longer a cause for international concern, and the incidents that occur in Darfur require post-conflict management and sustained peacebuilding. In the wake of the glorious revolution of December 2018, the fact that UNAMID’s mandate was terminated is evidence that there is no longer a need for a United Nations mission to protect civilians in Darfur. The Sudan has expressed its official desire to end the sanctions. It has conveyed that message to all the Heads of Delegations at the United Nations and international envoys who have visited us since the 2018 revolution. Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State of the United States in the Trump Administration, expressed the readiness of the United States to put an end to the sanctions regime. The Sudan submitted a national plan for the protection of civilians to the Security Council. The priority now is to implement the Juba Peace Agreement. We would like to underscore that our Government is making comprehensive efforts to address the root causes of intercommunal clashes in Darfur. Achieving security and stability there is a priority for us. That is why we sent a high-level delegation to West Darfur state after the events in Kerenik, Jebel Moon and Kulbus in order to assess the situation on the ground and submit recommendations to the Defence Council and the Sovereignty Council on taking urgent measures, bringing justice for the victims and prosecuting those responsible. In order to support peace, the Vice-President of the Sovereignty Council is currently visiting the city of El Geneina with representatives of the parties to the Juba Peace Agreement to check on the areas affected and determine the best way to restore law and order and the rule of law. The Council knows that resolution 1591 (2005) does not allow the State to send military forces or transfer weapons to Darfur. At the same time, however, the Government is being criticized when sporadic violence occurs in the region. In conclusion, after the end of the war and hostilities, and after the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement with the majority of the armed movements participating in the present Government, the situation in Darfur no longer poses a threat to international peace and security, as was the case in 2005 when resolution 1591 (2005) was adopted and followed by subsequent resolutions.