The unanimous decision, described as a “short-term technical rollover,” aims to provide additional time for Council members to deliberate on the mission’s future amid escalating political and security challenges in South Sudan.
Established on July 9, 2011, under resolution 1996 (2011), UNMISS was tasked with supporting the world’s youngest nation following its independence from Sudan.
The mission’s core objectives include protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian aid, monitoring human rights, and supporting peace processes.
Over the past 14 years, UNMISS has played a critical role in maintaining relative stability in a country plagued by civil war, ethnic violence, and political instability.
UNMISS has deployed over 14,000 peacekeepers and established protection-of-civilian (POC) sites that currently shelter approximately 200,000 displaced people. During the 2013-2018 civil war, these sites were instrumental in preventing large-scale massacres.
The mission has also supported the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, facilitating dialogue between President Salva Kiir’s government and opposition groups, including forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar.
The mission has also been pivotal in delivering humanitarian aid to remote areas, where over 7 million South Sudanese—more than half the population—face acute food insecurity.
Despite its contributions, UNMISS has faced significant criticism. Local communities and South Sudanese officials have accused the mission of being ineffective in preventing localised violence, particularly intercommunal clashes over land and cattle, which have killed hundreds annually.
In 2023, reports emerged of peacekeepers failing to intervene during attacks near POC sites, raising questions about the mission’s operational capacity.
The South Sudanese government has also expressed frustration, arguing that UNMISS infringes on national sovereignty. In 2022, Juba restricted UNMISS helicopter flights, citing security concerns, which hampered the mission’s ability to patrol volatile regions.
In March this year, Michael Makuei, the Minister of Information, reiterated the government’s demand that UNMISS should relocate its offices from the vicinity of Juba International Airport, citing national security concerns.
The brief mandate extension comes at a critical juncture when South Sudan is grappling with heightened political tensions following delays in implementing the 2018 peace agreement, including the failure to hold elections originally scheduled for 2024.
Recent clashes in Jonglei and Upper Nile states have displaced thousands, while flooding and economic crises have exacerbated humanitarian needs.
The Security Council has repeatedly noted that South Sudan’s instability poses a threat to regional peace, particularly given cross-border refugee flows into Uganda and Ethiopia.
A premature withdrawal of UNMISS could have dire consequences. Humanitarian operations, heavily reliant on UNMISS logistics, could collapse, worsening the plight of millions.
