The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday announced the extension of its more than 17,000-strong peacekeeping mission in South Sudan for another year, reported The East African.
A total of thirteen out of 15 UNSC members voted to extend the mandate for the mission, known as UNMISS (United Nations Mission in South Sudan), until March 15, 2024. China and Russia abstained from voting.
South Sudan was supposed to hold elections before February 2023, but that timetable was pushed back last August to December 2024.
Early this month the head of UNMISS Nicholas Haysom urged the South Sudanese government to implement its peace agreement in order to hold credible elections next year. He called 2023 a make-or-break year for the world’s newest nation, which has been beset by civil war.
Haysom told the council that it is only if there is political will that the country can keep its commitment to hold elections in 21 months.
South Sudan got engulfed in a civil war in December 2013 when forces loyal to President Salva Kiir came against those loyal to Vice President Riek Machar. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives in the war, which ended with a 2018 peace agreement signed between Kiir and Machar. The two leaders came together and formed a transitional government and agreed to join forces in a single army to protect the population, hard hit by violent conflict and climatic disasters.
The UNSC resolution pointed out that 2.2 million people are displaced within the country because of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, which has resulted in 9.4 million people currently in need of assistance.
It calls for South Sudanese authorities to take necessary measures for progress on key milestones paving the way towards peaceful elections, including adopting a constitution and required legislation, establishing an independent electoral commission, and approving transitional security arrangements.
