On Saturday, the UN Security Council decided to extend the mandate of the UN mission in Abyei for one year.
Resolution 2802 extends support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, established in 2011 to conduct monitoring and verification activities along the Sudan–South Sudan border.
The resolution states that the Council will consider further extensions based on verifiable progress by Sudan and South Sudan, noting that any decision regarding the mission’s future remains under the Council’s authority.
All armed forces and unauthorized armed groups were urged to withdraw from Abyei, and steps must be taken to achieve full disarmament, including through disarmament programs as needed.
The resolution also called for the resumption and documentation of Joint Political and Security Mechanism meetings, including dates, participants, and outcomes, and for the establishment of a joint security police in Abyei, including recruitment, training, deployment, and temporary administrative and security arrangements by September 2026.
The Council requested that both countries issue visas to allow the urgent deployment of 640 UN police personnel, including 148 officers and three regular police units, to support mission leadership and facilitate the prompt appointment of a civilian deputy head of the mission.
