The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan for another year, as the country teetered on the brink of renewed conflict.

The resolution, which was introduced by the United States and supported by 11 other council members, extended the mandate of UNMISS until April 30, 2026.

This action followed a short nine-day “technical rollover” approved by the Council on April 30 to allow more time for negotiations.

Through the text adopted on Thursday, the Security Council authorised the peacekeeping mission to “use all necessary means” to implement its mandate.

The mandate included protecting civilians, assisting aid delivery, supporting implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and investigating violations of international law.

Three nations – China, Pakistan, and Russia – abstained from the voting.
The renewal came amid an increasingly volatile political and security situation in the world’s youngest nation.

Head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom, warned ambassadors in April that the fragile 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, signed by historic rivals President Salva Kiir and former First Vice-President Riek Machar, was unravelling.

The political standoff, including the arrest of Mr Machar, had reportedly escalated into open military confrontation, while misinformation and hate speech were fuelling ethnic divisions and instability.

“This situation is darkly reminiscent of the conflicts of 2013 and 2016, which cost more than 400,000 lives,” Mr Haysom said.

The resolution maintained the mission’s overall force ceilings at 17,000 troops and 2,101 police, including 88 justice and corrections advisers.

The council also expressed its readiness to consider adjusting force levels and capacity building based on future conditions.

The resolution expressed “deep concern” over delays in implementing the 2018 agreement, urging South Sudan’s leaders to show political will and build mutual trust urgently.

It urged the parties to engage in open and constructive dialogue. Also, it stressed that the “organisation and funding of free and fair elections are the responsibility of the South Sudanese authorities”.

It called on the transitional government to adopt an appropriate legislative framework to fund national elections.

The resolution also condemned the use of sexual violence, recruitment of child soldiers and interference in any humanitarian operations.

UNMISS was initially established by the Security Council in 2011, following South Sudan’s independence from Sudan, to help maintain peace and stability at the time when the young nation faced significant internal conflicts and humanitarian challenges.

Before the adoption, U.S. acting representative Dorothy Shea called on the international community to bring South Sudan “back from the brink”.

“In short, as I hope we can all agree, the goal of UNMISS should be to render itself unnecessary by ushering in a lasting peace. The day that a peacekeeping operation is no longer required in South Sudan will be a bright one,” Ms Shea said.

Pakistan, which abstained from the resolution, said the mission’s task was being complicated when mandate resolutions were unnecessarily politicised by council members rather than tailored to the needs on the ground.

However, Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative, Muhammad Jadoon, said, “UNMISS remains a force of stability in South Sudan. We greatly appreciate the dedication of its personnel and peacekeepers, who are performing their duties under difficult conditions.” 

(NAN)