New York, 27 October 2022
Mr. President,
I thank ASG Pobee and Special Envoy Tetteh for their briefings, and I welcome the presence of the representatives of Sudan and South Sudan with us today.
Albania strongly supports the efforts of UNISFA personnel operating in the Abyei Area to ensure the protection of civilians and promote dialogue between the two Governments and in implementing their mandate.
In this regard, attacks against UNISFA personnel and restrictions of movement against the mission are unacceptable! We strongly condemn the violence against peacekeepers and call on all stakeholders to enable the mission’s freedom of movement. We also call on Sudan to facilitate the issuance of the necessary visas for UNISFA to complete its troop reconfiguration.
Mr. President,
We are concerned about the humanitarian crisis, the security and socio-economic situation, and the absence of a functional justice system. Regarding the recent local community tensions and the political situation in Khartoum, we urge parties to cease hostilities and address the root causes in order to achieve sustainable peace.
Also the situation has worsened by the recent flooding in South Sudan has severely affected the centre of the Abyei region.
Mr. President,
We welcome the agreement by both Governments to strengthen cooperation on Abyei. The holding of the Joint Peace and Security Mechanism (JPSM) meeting in May was a positive step, but all parties must further participate and hold the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) meeting. These talks remain crucial for resolving the border crossing corridors, making operational the Athony Airstrip and establishing the Joint Border Verification Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM).
Albania calls on Sudan and South Sudan to take concrete action to strengthen their engagement to enhance dialogue among all stakeholders. We must see serious commitment and political will to implement the peace agreement and build joint structures.
Furthermore, we welcome the recent Communique adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union, we commend their efforts, and call for further mediation engagement to find a way forward on the political stalemate.
To conclude, Mr. President, it is clear that the final status of Abyei is dependent upon Sudan and South Sudan. Therefore, we urge for concrete and constructive action to be taken to resolve the final status and bring peace and stability to Abyei.
Thank you!
