UN extends Abyei peacekeeping mandate amid dispute over political benchmarks

The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of its peacekeeping force in Abyei for a year, while tying future renewals to benchmarks that exposed divisions over how far the mission’s role should depend on political progress by Sudan and South Sudan.

The council voted 13-0 on 13 November to renew the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 November 2027. China and Russia abstained. The resolution also extends UN support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism.

The renewal follows a Security Council debate on the mission’s future, whose existing mandate was due to expire on 15 November 2026. Abyei is disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, and its final status remains unresolved.

The resolution sets out expectations for both countries, including regular negotiations on Abyei’s status and steps towards establishing an Abyei police service. It calls for South Sudan to withdraw its forces from southern Abyei on a defined timeline, Sudan to keep its armed forces from military operations in the area, and the Rapid Support Forces to withdraw completely. It also asks the UN to deploy a formed police unit within six months and appoint a civilian deputy head of mission within three months.

The United States welcomed the benchmarks, saying they set out who must act and how the council would assess progress. France also backed their continued use.

But several council members objected to linking the mission’s future to political benchmarks. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking for Liberia and Somalia, argued that political progress was largely outside the mission’s control and warned that conditions could jeopardise civilian protection. China said its abstention reflected opposition to the linkage. Russia also objected, saying a rigid connection between benchmarks and the mission’s continuation remained despite the removal of some timelines.

Pakistan voted for the resolution but warned against conditions that could threaten the mission’s presence. South Sudan welcomed the extension while criticising its lack of formal consultation during drafting and saying its concerns were not adequately reflected.

The resolution also calls for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into a 13 December 2025 drone attack on UNISFA personnel in Kadugli. It urges all parties to cooperate with findings and recommendations from an inquiry into the killing of a UNISFA peacekeeper and the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief, following the release of findings by the African Union Commission.