Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, Adopting Resolution 2802 (2025)
Meetings Coverage
Security Council
10042nd Meeting (resumed) (PM)
SC/16223
14 November 2025
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council today voted to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and its support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism until 15 November 2026. The 15-member organ adopted resolution 2802 (2025) (to be issued as document S/RES/2802(2025)) by a vote of 12 in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (China, Pakistan, Russian Federation).
Mandate Ensures Mission Is Guided by Clear Benchmarks
Following the adoption, the representative of the United States said the renewal reflects a shared commitment to peace and stability in Abyei. She stressed that the mandate differs from past renewals because it includes targets designed to ensure the mission is "guided by clear benchmarks" that track progress and keep host countries invested in its success. These benchmarks, she said, will help demonstrate the mission's impact and provide a tool to hold host Governments accountable for measurable progress.
She called on Sudan and South Sudan to make demonstrable progress by withdrawing all unauthorized armed forces and fully demilitarizing Abyei; resuming and documenting Joint Political and Security Mechanism meetings; establishing the Abyei Police Service; issuing visas for UNISFA police personnel; and supporting the appointment of a civilian Deputy Head of Mission. She also underscored the need to advance peace and security in Sudan and South Sudan which the people of Abyei deserve.
Among those voting in favour, several delegations voiced important reservations. The United Kingdom's delegate thanked the United States for its efforts and urged both Sudan and South Sudan to take steps in line with the resolution. "Any decisions on UNISFA's future must be informed by a thorough assessment of the implications for the protection of civilians," she said.
Addressing Drivers of Conflict Requires Focus on Climate Impacts
She added that "addressing the drivers of conflict in Abyei requires sustained attention to the impacts of climate change" and to the "specific needs of women and girls", noting that these are "not abstract concepts". While regretting the removal of language on these issues, the United Kingdom affirmed it would "continue to work with all Council members to support UNISFA in delivering effectively for the people of Abyei".
Slovenia's delegate, while also reaffirming its "steadfast support" for the mission, expressed concern about the "compressed timeline", which limited the Council's ability to fully consider changes related to climate change, gender equality and prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence. These elements, he stressed, are "vital" to sustainable peace.
Guyana's delegate, speaking also for Algeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia, echoed other in voicing support for UNISFA's mandate to ensure it continues to play an essential role in promoting peace, stability and community reconciliation in Abyei. While reiterating serious concerns regarding the "unrealistic benchmarks that could question the future renewal of UNISFA's mandate", she said the group of countries voted in favour of the resolution solely to ensure the mission's preservation.
Expressing regret concerning the departure from previously agreed language and established practices, as well as unrealistic benchmarks conditioning the renewal of the mandate, Guyana's delegate said such developments undermine the consensus and collaborative spirit on which the Council's effectiveness relies.
Concern over Growing Trend of Removing Previously Agreed Language
Panama's representative, noting that his delegation voted in favour of the draft, also voiced concern over the increasingly frequent trend of removing language that was previously agreed upon regarding the threat presented by climate change and sexual and gender-based violence in conflict.
Denmark's delegate noted she voted in favour, but at the same time expressed regret that the resolution has departed from long-established and previously agreed language which "remains highly relevant" — including deletion of references to gender. Weakening this language "diminishes key aspects of women's and girls' rights, as well as those others who may be vulnerable". This includes the relevant term "sexual- and gender-based violence", as excluding other forms of violence based on gender narrows the focus of the Council.
Among the Council members who abstained from the vote, China's representative said Beijing "supports the mission in better fulfilling its mandate" and "participated constructively" in consultations, but ultimately abstained on the vote because the resolution "sets multiple benchmarks" linked to future mandate renewal — an approach China "has reservations about". He further stressed that UNISFA was created to "maintain peace and stability in Abyei" and provide conditions for Sudan and South Sudan to settle final-status issues through dialogue, noting both countries "expressed their willingness to resume dialogue".
China cautioned that Abyei's unresolved status stems from "multiple factors" and should not be attributed to a lack of will by the parties, emphasizing that UNISFA has "achieved notable results" and that talk of withdrawal would have "serious negative impact". He also voiced concern that the penholder "did not take into consideration the views of all members", urging that any major mandate adjustment be based on on-the-ground realities, host-country consent and "comprehensive and prudent assessment".
Pakistan's delegate also noted he abstained on the resolution. His country is one of the biggest troop contributors to UNISFA, which, he noted, "continues to play an indispensable role in protecting civilians, facilitating dialogue among communities, preventing escalation and maintaining stability in an increasingly fragile environment". However, he voiced regret that a near-unanimous call for Council members to de-link and decouple the future of UNISFA from the fulfilment of proposed benchmarks "was not sufficiently heeded", with the required necessary changes in operative paragraph 1 not made.
Concerns over Linking UNISFA's Future to External Political Conditions
Voicing serious concern on this approach, Pakistan's delegate stressed that the fate of UNISFA "is being made contingent not on its performance, but on external factors beyond the mission's control". Political actions to be taken by Sudan and South Sudan "conditioning UNISFA's renewal on such extraneous objectives is unrealistic", he stated. While largely supporting these objectives, he stressed they "should better be pursued through the political track", calling for this formulation to not be used next year to undermine the mission. In its absence, "the risks are stark": a rapid escalation of intercommunal violence, accelerated arms proliferation, collapse of migration and worsening humanitarian access.
The Russian Federation's representative, also noting that her delegation abstained in the vote, underscored "the biased approach of the American penholders". Despite the differences over the text, "the authors did not bother themselves with seeking compromise", and instead, put a draft in blue. Recalling that the peacekeepers were deployed to fill the security vacuum and protect civilians from violence, she said that, today, the Council adopted a resolution that creates a scenario for a possible roll-up of UNISFA, for reasons not directly dependent on them. She emphasized that nearly all Council members — including her country — consistently advocate for maintaining the UN presence in Abyei and would not block their mandate extensions. She also rejected the addition of the environmental component in the UNISFA's mandate, stressing that it is "alien to its nature".
Responding to Council members, the United States' representative took to the floor once again to say that Washington, D.C., had "worked very hard to preserve space for UNISFA's effective work on the ground", while ensuring accountability, and had "modified the draft" after hearing concerns. She underscored that the goal remains giving Abyei and its people "every chance at a brighter future".
The representative of South Sudan also welcomed the adoption of the renewal of the UNISFA mandate, reaffirming readiness to cooperate with the UN, the Council and the mission in fulfilling its mandate. Noting that, "while various benchmarks may be raised from time to time", his Government "firmly believes that the only meaningful benchmark for peace is achieving peace itself". He therefore called on the international community to prioritize supporting progress and a peaceful resolution between the people of Ngok Dinka and the Misseriya. Reiterating an "unwavering commitment to the UN", he looked forward to the realization of the final status of Abyei in a peaceful manner.
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