Written question asked by Baroness Cox (Crossbench) on Thursday, 7 March 2024, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 March 2024. It was answered by Lord Benyon (Conservative) on Thursday, 21 March 2024 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

South Sudan: Sudan

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government, following recent attacks on civilians and UN peacekeepers, what is their assessment of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei capacity at its current troop level to protect civilians in Abyei Administrative Area.

Answer: The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei's (UNISFA) mandate was renewed in November 2023 and amended better to equip the mission to respond quickly to security incidents and to place greater emphasis on community engagement. The UK is using its position as a permanent member of the Security Council to urge both the government of South Sudan and the de facto Sudanese authorities to ensure UNISFA can fully and effectively implement its mandate, in line with their responsibility as host states and the 2011 Status of Forces Agreements. The extension of the UNISFA mandate from six to twelve months will also better enable the mission to develop longer-term strategies.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL3098
Session: 2023-24
Subjects: Armed forces Armed conflict Peacekeeping operations United Nations Sudan South Sudan
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk