United Nations Security Council Resolution 1556
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1556, adopted unanimously on July 30, 2004, after recalling resolutions 1502
(2003) and 1547
(2004) on the situation in Sudan
, the Council demanded that the Sudanese government disarm the Janjaweed
militia and bring to justice those who had committed violations of human rights
and international humanitarian law
in Darfur
.
The resolution, the first of its kind to address the war in Darfur
, was approved by 13 Council members, while China
and Pakistan
abstained
. China said some measures included in the text of the resolution were "unhelpful", and Pakistan argued the final text lacked the "necessary balance".
s and ethnic violence
carried out by the Janjaweed against civilians. The Council noted that the Sudanese government had promised to investigate the violence, prosecute those responsible and disarm the Janjaweed.
The preamble of the resolution also welcomed the leadership of the African Union
, and a joint communiqué
issued by the Sudanese government and Secretary-General Kofi Annan
on July 3, 2004. It recalled that over one million people were in need of urgent humanitarian aid
, and 200,000 people had fled into neighbouring Chad
increasing pressure on that country. The Council determined that the situation constituted a threat to international peace and security.
, the Council called upon the Sudanese government to fulfil its commitments made in the communiqué, including lifting restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian assistance, to co-operate with an independent investigation into human rights violations, and to resume dialogue with dissident groups in Darfur, particularly the Justice and Equality Movement
(JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
(SLM/A). Meanwhile, it endorsed the deployment of observers by the African Union
to the Darfur region. Parties to the N’Djamena Ceasefire Agreement in April 2004 were urged to work towards an agreement and rebels were urged to respect the ceasefire
and engage in peace talks.
The resolution demanded that Sudan disarm the Janjaweed and bring their leaders to trial, threatening further measures in the event of non-compliance by the Sudanese government. At the same time, an arms embargo
was imposed on groups operating in North Darfur
, West Darfur
and South Darfur
, including the Janjaweed, which would be reviewed if the Council determined that Sudan had complied with its demands. The embargo would not apply to United Nations or humanitarian personnel, and human rights observers.
The international community
was urged to provide humanitarian assistance to Darfur and Chad. Finally, the mandate
of an advance mission established in Resolution 1547 was extended by 90 days until December 10, 2004.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1556, adopted unanimously on July 30, 2004, after recalling resolutions 1502
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1502
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1502, adopted unanimously on August 26, 2003, after recalling resolutions 1265 , 1296 and 1460 , the Council condemned violence against humanitarian workers and called upon all states to ensure that such incidents did not remain unpunished.The vote on the...
(2003) and 1547
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1547
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1547, adopted unanimously on June 11, 2004, after welcoming the commitment of the Sudanese government and Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to work towards a full ceasefire and peace agreement to end the Second Sudanese Civil War, the Council...
(2004) on the situation in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, the Council demanded that the Sudanese government disarm the Janjaweed
Janjaweed
The Janjaweed is a blanket term used to describe mostly gunmen in Darfur, western Sudan, and now eastern Chad...
militia and bring to justice those who had committed violations of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
in Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
.
The resolution, the first of its kind to address the war in Darfur
War in Darfur
The Darfur Conflict was a guerrilla conflict or civil war centered on the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and Justice and Equality Movement groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in...
, was approved by 13 Council members, while China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
abstained
Abstention
Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by...
. China said some measures included in the text of the resolution were "unhelpful", and Pakistan argued the final text lacked the "necessary balance".
Observations
The Security Council remained concerned about the humanitarian crisis and human rights abuses, including attacks on civilians which put thousands of lives at risk. It condemned such abuses by all parties involved in the conflict, particularly forced displacements, rapeRape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
s and ethnic violence
Ethnic violence
Ethnic violence refers to violence expressly motivated by ethnic hatred...
carried out by the Janjaweed against civilians. The Council noted that the Sudanese government had promised to investigate the violence, prosecute those responsible and disarm the Janjaweed.
The preamble of the resolution also welcomed the leadership of the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
, and a joint communiqué
Message
A message in its most general meaning is an object of communication. It is a vessel which provides information. Yet, it can also be this information. Therefore, its meaning is dependent upon the context in which it is used; the term may apply to both the information and its form...
issued by the Sudanese government and Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
on July 3, 2004. It recalled that over one million people were in need of urgent humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
, and 200,000 people had fled into neighbouring Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
increasing pressure on that country. The Council determined that the situation constituted a threat to international peace and security.
Acts
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, the Council called upon the Sudanese government to fulfil its commitments made in the communiqué, including lifting restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian assistance, to co-operate with an independent investigation into human rights violations, and to resume dialogue with dissident groups in Darfur, particularly the Justice and Equality Movement
Justice and Equality Movement
The Justice and Equality Movement is a rebel group involved in the Darfur conflict of Sudan, led by Khalil Ibrahim. Along with other rebel groups, such as the Sudan Liberation Movement , they are fighting against the Sudanese Government, including the government's proxy militia, the Janjaweed...
(JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army or is a Sudanese rebel group...
(SLM/A). Meanwhile, it endorsed the deployment of observers by the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
to the Darfur region. Parties to the N’Djamena Ceasefire Agreement in April 2004 were urged to work towards an agreement and rebels were urged to respect the ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
and engage in peace talks.
The resolution demanded that Sudan disarm the Janjaweed and bring their leaders to trial, threatening further measures in the event of non-compliance by the Sudanese government. At the same time, an arms embargo
Arms embargo
An arms embargo is an embargo that applies to weaponry. It may also include "dual use" items. An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:# to signal disapproval of behavior by a certain actor,# to maintain neutral standing in an ongoing conflict, or...
was imposed on groups operating in North Darfur
North Darfur
North Darfur is one of the 15 wilayat or states of Sudan. It is one of the three states composing the Darfur region. It has an area of 296,420 km² and an estimated population of approximately 1,583,000 . Al-Fashir is the capital of the state...
, West Darfur
West Darfur
West Darfur is one of the 15 states of Sudan, and one of three comprising the Darfur region. It has an area of 79,460 km² and an estimated population of approximately 1,007,000 . It borders North and South Darfur to the east. The Chadian prefectures of Biltine and Ouaddaï lie to the west,...
and South Darfur
South Darfur
South Darfur is one of the 15 wilayat or states of Sudan. It is one of the three states that compose the region of Darfur in western Sudan. It has an area of and an estimated population of approximately 2,890,000 . Nyala is the capital of the state. The State was affected by the 2010 Sahel...
, including the Janjaweed, which would be reviewed if the Council determined that Sudan had complied with its demands. The embargo would not apply to United Nations or humanitarian personnel, and human rights observers.
The international community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
was urged to provide humanitarian assistance to Darfur and Chad. Finally, the mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
of an advance mission established in Resolution 1547 was extended by 90 days until December 10, 2004.
See also
- African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur
- Chad–Sudan relations
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- Southern Sudan
- United Nations Mission in SudanUnited Nations Mission in SudanThe United Nations Mission in the Sudan was established by the UN Security Council under Resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005, in response to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on January 9, 2005 in Nairobi,...
- War in DarfurWar in DarfurThe Darfur Conflict was a guerrilla conflict or civil war centered on the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and Justice and Equality Movement groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in...