I’d like to make three points.
\n\nFirst, the United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by insecurity in Abyei and its impact on civilians.
\n\nContinued violations of Abyei’s demilitarised status are unacceptable.
\n\nThe United Kingdom condemns the drone attacks near Amiet Market and Todach on the 19th of October, which killed and injured civilians and displaced thousands.
\n\nWe are also appalled by the continued prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence, including against children, and the persistent lack of access to justice and accountability.
\n\nAll parties must meet their obligations under international law, protect civilians, and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
\n\nSecondly, UNISFA remains essential to stability in Abyei.
\n\nWe welcome progress against some of the benchmarks agreed last year, including towards deploying UNISFA’s first Formed Police Unit and appointing a civilian Deputy Head of Mission.
\n\nBut much more needs to be done.
\n\nSudan and South Sudan must ensure UNISFA has the access and support it needs to deliver its mandate.
\n\nAll unauthorised armed forces, including the Rapid Support Forces, must withdraw from Abyei.
\n\nThird, renewed political engagement must now deliver results.
\n\nThe resumption of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism after more than three years is an important step.
\n\nBut dialogue needs to translate into concrete progress.
\n\nThat means addressing the outstanding governance arrangements; resolving disagreement over plans to include Abyei in South Sudan’s December elections; and making progress towards resolving Abyei’s final status.
\n\nBoth parties need to implement their commitments and avoid unilateral actions that risk further instability.
\n\nPresident, there is an opportunity for progress in Abyei.
\n\nSudan and South Sudan should seize it, with the full support of this Council.
\nThe Deputy Permanent Representative is a senior diplomat with the rank of Ambassador, acting as alternate to the Permanent Representative across the full range of UN business. This includes representing the UK in the Security Council and Economic and Social Council, and working on issues such as security and conflict, human rights, sustainable development and climate change. The DPR is also responsible for the daily management of the Mission.
\n\n","role_payment_type":null},"document_type":"ambassador_role","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2026-10-06T06:59:47Z","schema_name":"role","title":"Deputy Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the UN, New York","withdrawn":false}],"speaker":[{"api_path":"/api/content/government/people/kate-foster","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/government/people/kate-foster","base_path":"/government/people/kate-foster","content_id":"a39a20f9-f8ee-4662-84b9-39cd76aaed63","document_type":"person","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2026-07-01T14:35:38Z","schema_name":"person","title":"Kate Foster OBE","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/people/kate-foster","withdrawn":false}],"taxons":[{"api_path":"/api/content/international/foreign-affairs","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/international/foreign-affairs","base_path":"/international/foreign-affairs","content_id":"d6dba75a-42bd-4e1e-984c-2bddb6b41951","details":{"internal_name":"Foreign affairs [P]","notes_for_editors":"","visible_to_departmental_editors":false},"document_type":"taxon","links":{"parent_taxons":[{"api_path":"/api/content/international","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/international","base_path":"/international","content_id":"37d0fa26-abed-4c74-8835-b3b51ae1c8b2","description":"","details":{"internal_name":"International","notes_for_editors":"","visible_to_departmental_editors":true},"document_type":"taxon","links":{"root_taxon":[{"api_path":"/api/content/","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/","base_path":"/","content_id":"f3bbdec2-0e62-4520-a7fd-6ffd5d36e03a","document_type":"homepage","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2026-02-18T13:00:23Z","schema_name":"homepage","title":"GOV.UK homepage","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/","withdrawn":false}]},"locale":"en","phase":"live","public_updated_at":"2018-09-16T20:30:28Z","schema_name":"taxon","title":"International","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/international","withdrawn":false}]},"locale":"en","phase":"live","public_updated_at":"2018-09-05T16:14:19Z","schema_name":"taxon","title":"Foreign affairs","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/international/foreign-affairs","withdrawn":false}],"world_locations":[{"analytics_identifier":"WL208","api_path":"/api/content/world/uk-mission-to-the-united-nations-new-york","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/world/uk-mission-to-the-united-nations-new-york","base_path":"/world/uk-mission-to-the-united-nations-new-york","content_id":"5e9f3bc0-7706-11e4-a3cb-005056011aef","description":"Updates, news and events from the UK government in UK Mission to the United Nations, New York","document_type":"world_location_news","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2013-03-25T23:11:41Z","schema_name":"world_location_news","title":"UK Mission to the United Nations (New York)","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/world/uk-mission-to-the-united-nations-new-york","withdrawn":false}]},"locale":"en","phase":"live","public_updated_at":"2026-11-05T16:11:59+00:00","publishing_app":"whitehall","publishing_request_id":"21-1793895145.000-10.13.22.25-44486","publishing_scheduled_at":null,"rendering_app":"frontend","scheduled_publishing_delay_seconds":null,"schema_name":"speech","title":"Continued violations of Abyei’s demilitarised status are unacceptable: UK statement at the UN Security Council","updated_at":"2026-11-05T16:12:41+00:00","withdrawn_notice":{}}