United Nations Security Council Resolution 1996
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1996, adopted unanimously on July 8, 2011, after welcoming the independence of South Sudan
from Sudan
, the Council established the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) for an initial period of one year.
, particularly through the strengthening of national institutions.
Meanwhile, Council members called for co-operation between UNMISS and other peacekeeping
operations in the area, United Nations agencies and other organisations to implement the post-conflict peacebuilding. The Council also recalled various agreements between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) concerning the status of Abyei
, border security and security in Blue Nile
and South Kordofan states.
, the Council established UNMISS for an initial period of one year with the intention of further renewals if necessary. It decided that the mission would consist of 7,000 military and 900 police personnel. A review on whether to reduce the troop numbers to 6,000 would be considered in three to six months.
UNMISS was tasked with focussing on security and development, including through support for peace consolidation and state-building, supporting the government of South Sudan in conflict resolution, the protection of civilians, establishing the rule of law
and strengthening the security and justice
sector. It was authorised to use "all necessary means" to enforce the mandate
.
The resolution called for unimpeded access and full co-operation with UNMISS from all states. It demanded that the Lord's Resistance Army
end attacks against civilians in South Sudan, and for an end to the use of child soldiers. South Sudan was urged to increase the participation of women in society and to reform the prison system.
Finally, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
was urged to provide more details on the operation and report on its progress.
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"....
1996, adopted unanimously on July 8, 2011, after welcoming the independence of South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
from 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 established the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) for an initial period of one year.
Observations
In the preamble of Resolution 1996, the Security Council stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to peace consolidation which addressed the underlying causes of the conflict and the mutually reinforcing principles of security and development. It deplored the persistance of the conflict and its effect on the civilian population, while stressing the importance of post-conflict peacebuildingPeacebuilding
Peacebuilding is a term used within the international development community to describe the processes and activities involved in resolving violent conflict and establishing a sustainable peace....
, particularly through the strengthening of national institutions.
Meanwhile, Council members called for co-operation between UNMISS and other peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operations in the area, United Nations agencies and other organisations to implement the post-conflict peacebuilding. The Council also recalled various agreements between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) concerning the status of Abyei
Abyei
The Abyei Area is an area of in Sudan accorded "special administrative status" by the 2004 Protocol on the resolution of the Abyei conflict in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War. The capital of Abyei Area is Abyei Town...
, border security and security in Blue Nile
Blue Nile (state)
Blue Nile called Central from 1991 until 1994, is one of the 15 states of Sudan. It was established by Presidential Decree Nº3 in 1992 and is named after the Blue Nile River. It has an area of 45,844 km² and an estimated population of 1,193,293 . The Central Bureau of Statistics quoted the...
and South Kordofan states.
Acts
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 established UNMISS for an initial period of one year with the intention of further renewals if necessary. It decided that the mission would consist of 7,000 military and 900 police personnel. A review on whether to reduce the troop numbers to 6,000 would be considered in three to six months.
UNMISS was tasked with focussing on security and development, including through support for peace consolidation and state-building, supporting the government of South Sudan in conflict resolution, the protection of civilians, establishing the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
and strengthening the security and justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
sector. It was authorised to use "all necessary means" to enforce 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....
.
The resolution called for unimpeded access and full co-operation with UNMISS from all states. It demanded that the Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
end attacks against civilians in South Sudan, and for an end to the use of child soldiers. South Sudan was urged to increase the participation of women in society and to reform the prison system.
Finally, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
was urged to provide more details on the operation and report on its progress.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1901 to 2000 (2009 – 2011)
- Second Sudanese Civil WarSecond Sudanese Civil WarThe Second Sudanese Civil War started in 1983, although it was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originated in southern Sudan, the civil war spread to the Nuba mountains and Blue Nile by the end of the 1980s....
- South Kordofan conflict
- Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011Southern Sudanese independence referendum, 2011A referendum took place in Southern Sudan from 9 to 15 January 2011, on whether the region should remain a part of Sudan or become independent. The referendum was one of the consequences of the 2005 Naivasha Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People's Liberation...
- United Nations Interim Security Force for AbyeiUnited Nations Interim Security Force for AbyeiThe United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei is a United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, which is contested between the Republic of Sudan and the newly-independent Republic of South Sudan...
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1990United Nations Security Council Resolution 1990United Nations Security Council Resolution 1990, adopted unanimously on June 27, 2011, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sudan and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Council established the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei in the disputed Abyei region...