South Sudan welcomes extension of UNMISS mandate

JUBA – South Sudan government on Wednesday welcomed the U.N. Security Council’s decision extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until March 2022.

The UN Mission mandate includes the protection of civilians under threat of physical violence, with specific protection for women and children. 

The mandate also consists of the creation of conditions that are conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, supporting implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement as well as monitoring, investigating and reporting on violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Wednesday, South Sudan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Dau Deng, welcomed the extension of the UNMISS mandate in the world’s youngest nation.

“We, the government want the mandate of the UNMISS to be adjusted from protection of civilians, implementation of the peace agreement, and human rights reporting to constitutional and capacity building at national and state levels,” Dau told Sudans Post reporter yesterday.

Dau said that the UN mission mandate should also include the development of infrastructure in the country.

“South Sudan have been advocating for the change of the UN mandate  to the original mandate of 2011 but they  (UNMISS) have insisted to continue focusing on the new mandate which draws attention to issues of human rights violations, issues of protection of civilians,  and issues of humanitarian access,” he said.