Security Council renews mandate of UN Mission in South Sudan

The Security Council today adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations mission in the country until 30 November 2015, giving the operation authorization to use all necessary means to protect civilians, monitor and investigate human rights, and create the conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Council members requested that the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative, continue to direct the operations of an integrated UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), coordinating all UN activities in the country and supporting a coherent international approach to achieving peace.

The draft decided that the military component of the Mission would comprise up to 12,500 troops and 1,323 police, requesting the Mission to work to continue to streamline its operations and expressing its intention to keep the requirements of and composition of UNMISS components under active review.

One of the requests the resolution made of the Mission’s forces is that they should ensure full compliance with the UN ‘zero tolerance’ policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and should keep the Council fully informed about the Mission's progress in that regard.

The text also called for immediate and full implementation of two agreements by the Government of South Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLM/A) in Opposition, expressing its intention to consider all appropriate measures against any party taking action to undermine peace, stability, and security in the country.

It urged all parties to join national dialogue to establish lasting peace, reconciliation and good governance, encouraging the efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and the UN to reach a peace agreement between the parties.

The text condemned in the strongest terms attacks on and threats made to UNMISS personnel and UN facilities, including repeated attacks on the Mission’s camps in Bur, Bentiu, Malakal and Melut, stressing that such attacks may constitute violations of the Status of Forces Agreement and/or war crimes.

It also condemned all violations of applicable international law, especially those involving children, and reports of rampant sexual violence, and urged investigations into all allegations of human rights violations and abuses, calling for accountability for anyone responsible, with all victims of sexual violence being assured equal protection under the law and equal access to justice.