Text of the Security Council resolution on the crisis in Darfur, western Sudan
Resolution 1556 (2004)
Adopted at its 5015th session, held on 30 July 2004
The Security Council, Recalling its presidential statement of 25 May 2004 and its resolution 1547 of 11 June 2004 and its resolution 1502 of 16 August 2003 on access for humanitarian workers to populations in need, welcoming the leadership role played by the African Union and its participation in addressing the situation in Darfur, and expressing its readiness to provide support Welcoming also the communication issued by the African Union Peace and Security Council of 27 July 2004 (s/2004/603), reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, in line with the Machakos Protocol of 20 July 2002, and subsequent and based agreements, approved by the Government of Sudan, and welcoming the joint statement issued by the Government of Sudan and the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 3 July 2004, including the establishment of a joint implementation mechanism, recognizing the steps taken to improve humanitarian access, taking note of the Secretary-General’s report on Sudan, issued in June 2004, welcoming the Secretary-General’s appointment of a Special Representative for Sudan and the efforts he has made to date, and reiterating its deep concern about the current humanitarian crisis and the widespread human rights violations, including ongoing attacks on civilians, endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands, condemning all acts of violence and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by all parties to the crisis, in particular the Janjaweed, including indiscriminate attacks against civilians, cases of rape, forced displacement and acts of violence, especially those with an ethnic dimension, and expressing deep concern about the consequences of the ongoing conflict in Darfur on the civilian population, including women, children and internally displaced persons and refugees, noting in this regard that the Sudanese Government bears the primary responsibility for respecting human rights, while at the same time maintaining law and order and protecting its population within its territory, and that all parties are obligated to respect international humanitarian law, urging all parties to take the necessary steps to prevent and stop violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, emphasizing that the perpetrators of these violations will not escape punishment, and welcoming the commitment of the Government of Sudan to investigate atrocities committed and prosecute those responsible for their commission, affirming the commitment of the Government of Sudan to immediately mobilize the Sudanese Armed Forces in order to disarm the Janjaweed militias, and also recalling in this regard its resolutions 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, 1379 (2001), 1460 (2003) and 1539 (2004) on children in armed conflict, and 1265 (1999) and 1296 (2000) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and expressing concern at reports of violations of the ceasefire agreement signed in N'Djamena on 8 April 2004, Reiterating that all parties to the ceasefire agreement must comply with all conditions contained therein, welcoming the consultations held by donors in Geneva in June 2004, and the subsequent briefings in which the urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan and Chad were highlighted, reminding donors of the need to fulfill the commitments they have undertaken, noting that there are more than a million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, and that providing assistance It is becoming increasingly difficult with the onset of the rainy season, and that the lives of hundreds of thousands of people will be at risk if urgent measures are not taken to meet security, access, logistical, capacity and financing needs, Expressing its determination to do everything in its power to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe, including by taking further measures if necessary, Welcoming the ongoing diplomatic efforts at the international level to address the situation in Darfur, and Emphasizing The return of any refugees or displaced persons to their homes must be voluntary and provided with appropriate assistance and adequate security, Noting with deep concern that up to 200,000 refugees have fled to the neighboring State of Chad, which places a serious burden on that country, Expressing grave concern over reports that Janjaweed militias belonging to the Darfur region of Sudan have launched cross-border raids into Chad, and also taking note In the agreement concluded by the Governments of Sudan and Chad regarding the establishment of a joint mechanism to secure the borders, and determining that the situation in Sudan represents a threat to international peace and security, and acting in accordance with Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations:
1 - Requests the Government of Sudan to immediately fulfill all the commitments it undertook in the statement issued on 3 July 2004, including, in particular, by facilitating international relief work to mitigate this humanitarian catastrophe, by removing all restrictions that could impede the provision of humanitarian assistance, providing access to all affected populations, strengthening independent investigations into violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, in cooperation with the United Nations, and by creating a reliable security environment for the protection of the civilian population. and humanitarian actors, and the resumption of political talks on Darfur with dissident groups in the Darfur region, in particular the Justice and Equality Movement, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Sudan Liberation Army.
2- Supports the dispatch of international observers under the leadership of the African Union to the Darfur region of Sudan, including the protection force envisaged by the African Union, urges the international community to continue to support these efforts, welcomes the progress made towards the deployment of observers, including offers made by members of the African Union regarding the provision of forces, and stresses the need for the Government of Sudan and all parties concerned to facilitate the work of the observers in accordance with the N’Djamena Ceasefire Agreement and the Addis Ababa Agreement of 28 May on Methods of establishing an observer mission to monitor the ceasefire.
3- Urges Member States to strengthen the African Union-led international monitoring team, including UNPROFOR, by providing personnel and other assistance necessary for the monitoring operation, including funding, supplies, transportation, vehicles, command and communications support, and headquarters support, and welcomes the contributions already made by the European Union and the United States to support the African Union-led operation.
4- Welcomes the work undertaken by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to send human rights monitors to Sudan, and calls on the Sudanese government to cooperate with the High Commissioner in deploying those monitors.
5- Urging the parties to the N’Djamena Ceasefire Agreement, dated April 8, 2004, to conclude a political agreement without delay. It notes with regret the non-participation of senior rebel leaders in the talks that took place on July 15 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as this does not help in the progress of this process, and calls for talks to be held again under the supervision of the African Union and its chief mediator, Hamid Al-Gabed, in order to reach a political solution to the tensions taking place in Darfur, and strongly urges the rebel groups to respect the ceasefire and immediately end the violence and enter into peace talks without preconditions and work in a manner Positive and constructive in order to resolve the conflict.
6. Calls upon the Government of Sudan to fulfill the commitments it has undertaken to disarm the Janjaweed militias, arrest and commit Janjaweed leaders and their associates who have incited and committed violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and other atrocities, and bring these individuals to justice, and further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Council within 30 days, and every month thereafter, a report on its progress The Government of Sudan, whether or not it has made any progress in this regard, is known for its intention to consider taking further measures with regard to the Government of Sudan, in the event of non-compliance, including the measures provided for in Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations.
7 - Decides that all states shall take the necessary measures to prevent or supply to all non-governmental entities and all individuals operating in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur, including the Janjaweed, the sale, or supply to all non-governmental entities and all individuals operating in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur, from their territory, or from their territory, or from their territory, or from their territory, or from their territory, or using the vessels or aircraft flying their flag, whether or not originating in their territories or not. Weapons and materials.
8 - Decides that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent their nationals or their territory from providing non-governmental entities and individuals specified in Paragraph 7, working in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur, including the Janjaweed, with technical training or assistance in connection with the supply, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items referred to in Paragraph 7 above.
9- Decides that the measures imposed under paragraphs 7 and 8 above will not apply to: * Supplies related to technical training, enhanced monitoring and verification, or peace support operations, including operations led by regional organizations authorized by the United Nations or operating with the consent of the parties concerned. * Non-lethal military supplies intended for humanitarian, human rights monitoring or preventive uses, or related to technical training and assistance. * Supplies of protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, for personal use by United Nations staff, human rights monitors, media representatives, humanitarian and development personnel and related staff.
10- Expresses its intention to consider amending or abolishing the measures imposed under Paragraphs 7 and 8 when it deems that the Government of Sudan has fulfilled its obligations contained in Paragraph 16.
11- It reaffirms its support for the Naivasha Agreement signed between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, and looks forward to the effective implementation of the agreement and to the existence of a united, peaceful Sudan that works in harmony with all other countries for the development of Sudan. It calls on the international community to stand ready for continued participation, including providing the necessary funding to support peace and economic development in Sudan.
12- Urges the international community to provide much-needed assistance to the process of alleviating the effects of the humanitarian catastrophe whose dimensions are now evident in the Darfur region, and calls upon Member States to fulfill the commitments they have made towards meeting the needs of Darfur and Chad, and stresses the need to contribute generously to fulfilling the unfulfilled portion of the consolidated appeals of the United Nations; 13 Requests the Secretary-General to activate inter-agency humanitarian mechanisms, consider what additional measures may be required to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, and report regularly to the Council on the progress achieved.
14- Encourages the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan and the independent expert of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to work closely with the Government of Sudan to support an independent investigation into violations of human rights and international law in the Darfur region.
15- Extends the special political mission stipulated in Resolution 1547 for an additional period of 90 days, until December 10, 2004, and requests the Secretary-General to incorporate contingency plans related to the Darfur region into the mission.
16- Expresses its full support for the Ceasefire Committee and the African Union Monitoring Mission in Darfur, and requests the Secretary-General to provide assistance to the African Union in the areas of planning and conducting assessments related to its mission in Darfur, and to make the necessary preparations in accordance with the joint statement in order to implement any future agreement in Darfur in close cooperation with the African Union, and requests the Secretary-General to inform the Security Council of the progress achieved.
17- Decides to keep the matter under consideration.