A3 JOINT STATEMENT ON UNISFA (SITUATION IN SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN)

Delivered by

H.E. Mrs. Jocelyne KABENGELE LUKUNDULA,

Amb. and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

New York, November 05, 2026.

Thank you, Madam President,

1.I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3, namely Liberia, Somalia, and my own country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

2.We thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Guang Cong, for their briefings, and we take note of the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Abyei.

3.While we welcome the meaningful steps taken toward benchmark implementation, the peaceful conclusion of the 2025/26 migration season, and the overall 32 per cent reduction in recorded security incidents, the A3 remains deeply concerned by the enduring fragility of the security and political landscape. Compounding resource constraints, critical staffing shortfalls, and severe funding vacuums continue to challenge UNISFA’s operational reach and mandate delivery.

4.Against this backdrop, we wish to underscore the following points:

5.First, the priority must remain advancing the political process toward Abyei’s final status and sustaining bilateral engagement. The A3 warmly welcomes the reconvening of the seventeenth meeting of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) in Juba on 10 August 2026—the first since January 2023—and urges both the Sudan and South Sudan to build on this momentum, including during upcoming sessions. In parallel, we reiterate our call for the immediate withdrawal of all unauthorized armed actors from the Abyei Area and full respect for its demilitarized status in line with the 2011 Agreement. We urge that concrete modalities and timelines be agreed upon and implemented without delay. We also remain concerned by the presence of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) elements in Sector North, the deadly clash in Um Khariet in May, and announcements regarding representation in the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, which could risk inflaming political tensions. Furthermore, the establishment of the Abyei Police Service remains urgent because local community protection committees continue to shoulder law enforcement amid high levels of criminality, with 1,628 offenses recorded during this period.

6.Secondly, concerted action is vital to address acute humanitarian vulnerabilities, protect civilians, and advance social cohesion. The deadly violence at Amiet market on 15 September, resulting in approximately 40 civilian deaths and 100 injuries, starkly underscores how rapidly localized disputes can escalate in the presence of illicit arms. Humanitarian conditions are equally dire, marked by a 23 per cent global acute malnutrition rate, recurring waterborne disease outbreaks, and the continuous influx of over 49,000 displaced persons and returnees fleeing the conflict in the Sudan. We commend UNISFA’s community dialogue initiatives, including the successful intercommunal dialogues in Rumajak and Wau, and the integrated peacebuilding work of the Resident Coordinators’ Abyei Joint Program. However, the international community and donor partners must urgently step forward with sustained financial support to prevent critical gaps in basic service delivery.

7.Finally, the operational readiness and safety of UNISFA personnel and assets must be fully supported and protected. We welcome the positive progress made toward deploying the Mission’s first Formed Police Unit and advancing the appointment of a civilian Deputy Head of Mission, aided by both Governments’ facilitation of visas. We also take note of UNISFA’s proposed options to reconfigure and revitalize the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) through remote monitoring and intelligence-led analysis. Nevertheless, we express concern over ongoing freedom of movement restrictions, such as SSPDF challenges to UNISFA static positions in Sector South, as well as severe budgetary constraints that have led to a 28.8 per cent civilian vacancy rate and a sharp curtailment in vital Mine Action Service capacity at the onset of the dry season. The A3 reiterates its call for providing UNISFA adequate, sustainable, and predictable resources to effectively implement its mandate.

8.To conclude, Madam President, the A3 reaffirms its full support to UNISFA and commends the troop- and police-contributing countries, Special Envoy Guang Cong, Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander Lieutenant General Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, and all Mission personnel for their steadfast commitment to peace and civilian protection under taxing circumstances. While UNISFA remains an indispensable pillar of local stability, it cannot substitute for the political will and bilateral cooperation required of the parties to resolve Abyei’s final status.

I thank you.