9 May 2023
Thank you Madam President,
I thank ASG (Martha) Pobee and Special Envoy (Hanna) Tetteh for their briefings and commend UNISFA for its efforts to promote dialogue and security in the Abyei Area, even under more difficult conditions.
In this context, we urge the parties to ensure unhindered access to UNISFA and ensure the security of its staff.
At the outset, Albania expresses its concerns about the situation in Sudan which presents significant risks for the already fragile Abyei Area.
We call on the Sudanese parties to cease hostilities and engage in reaching a nation-wide ceasefire and support regional efforts in this regard.
Madam President, I will make three brief points:
Firstly, we wanted to commend the high-level engagement, before the fighting started in Sudan which is affecting the momentum reached before for implementation of the agreement on administrative and political arrangements.
In this context, we urge Sudan and South Sudan to focus on reconvening the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee meeting and implement the agreement on administrative and political arrangements aimed at resolving border issues and community tensions.
During which, parties must facilitate the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in order to strengthen their role.
Secondly, the security situation remains difficult. We are concerned that the unresolved final status of the Abyei Area and the situation in Sudan have increased tensions.
We condemn the continued armed clashes between the Ngok and the Twic Dinka (local) communities, which is a major challenge for the protection of civilians and has led to the increased circulation of weapons among youth. We call on all stakeholders to implement the cessation of hostilities agreement (signed last April) and work with UNISFA to strengthen dialogue and social cohesion.
In this regard, we call for the removal of all impediments to the mission, and echo the SG’s call for Sudan and South Sudan to withdraw their military and police troops from the Abyei Area.
Thirdly, we remain concerned about the protection of civilians and the dire humanitarian situation. Particularly as the ongoing violence has led to the displacement of thousands of people, and increased human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence. Civilians are denied basic services, access to justice and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
To this end, it is essential that joint border structures including the Abyei police are established to enhance the rule of law and strengthen accountability!
In conclusion, despite the challenging situation, Sudan and South Sudan must continue to work to resolve the final status of Abyei through peaceful means. The fighting in Sudan risks hindering further dialogue and impeding the implementation of UNISFA’s mandate. We stress that it is only through dialogue and compromise that a settlement on the final status of Abyei can be reached.
Thank you.