China, Russia accuse US of ‘underhand dealings’ in deciding UNMISS role

China and Russia have criticised members of the United Nations Security Council for renewing the stay of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), arguing the draft resolution was imbalanced.

This comes after the UNSC voted on Tuesday to prolong the stay of the peacekeeping mission in the country for another year. Its current term will now end on March 15, 2023. They also agreed to maintain the 17,000 troops and 2,101 police personnel in the country.

However, China and Russia, which voted against the resolution that approved the stay of UNMISS for another year, criticised the United States for ‘imposing its agenda’.

China’s Deputy U.N. ambassador, Dai Bing, criticised the United States for pushing “for the inclusion of many human rights-related texts, resulting in a very unbalanced draft resolution.”

Bing said the international community should support South Sudan to gradually explore a path of human rights development that is suitable for its national conditions instead of resorting to criticism or pressurization, “not to mention interference in internal affairs,” he said.

Stands accused

He said China decided to abstain from Tuesday’s vote after the United States, the “penholder on South Sudan,” refused to make revisions.

However, Bing said UNMISS has made sustained and enormous efforts in facilitating the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement, protecting civilians, delivering humanitarian relief, and advancing South Sudan’s nation-building.

He hailed the mission’s important role and supported the renewal of its mandate.

“South Sudan is the youngest UN member. He said the international community should support the country in gradually exploring a path of human rights development that is suitable for its national conditions, instead of resorting to criticism or pressure, not to mention interference in its internal affairs. “The Security Council is not the appropriate forum for human rights discussions,” Ambassador Bing said.

“The language in the draft refers to “human rights defenders.” Internationally, there is no clear, unified definition for this term. “China opposes this reference,” he stressed.

The draft also asks UNMISS to assess the effects of climate change on humanitarian situations, a job that should rightly fall to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs or the country team, instead of UNMISS.

Ambassador Bing said China did not appreciate assigning climate change-related mandates to peacekeeping missions without an in-depth analysis of climate change impacts and a clear understanding of climate change as a driver of security risks.

“We request that there should be no human resource or budget increase due to this inappropriate mandate.”

“In fact, on the aforementioned issues, several Security Council members repeatedly requested revisions. But the penholder failed to heed their calls and take on board their reasonable suggestions, and did not demonstrate a penholder’s inclusiveness. In view of this, China had no option but to abstain, “Bing stated.

China committed

However, he said China will always stand with the South Sudanese people in their journey of nation-building. He said China is ready to work with UNMISS to make positive contributions to the peace and stability of South Sudan.

Meanwhile, Deputy Russian ambassador Anna Evstigneeva regretted that the resolution “did not duly reflect the positive developments in this young state” and instead “fixated on negative aspects,” leaving the text “imbalanced.”

Resolution 2625 (2022) was adopted by a vote of 13-0, with China and Russia abstaining, both calling the measure unbalanced for including human rights in the resolution’s text.

The UNSC also approved an annual budget of $1 billion to facilitate the operation of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

The operation is one of the most expensive for the U.N., with an annual budget surpassing $1 billion, according to the UNSC.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas Greenfield, welcomed the renewal of the mandate, citing that it reinforces “to protect civilians, support the delivery of humanitarian assistance, monitor and investigate human rights, and support the peace process.”

UNMISS was established on July 8, 2011, by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1996 (2011). Its mandate, as per Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter is concerned with the protection of civilians, and thus is not mandated to engage in the protection of South Sudan’s territory or the sovereignty of that territory.

The Security Council determined that the situation faced by South Sudan continued to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region.

The world’s youngest country has experienced chronic instability since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

In 2013, civil war broke out in the country between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Vice President Riek Machar.

The fighting left thousands dead and millions displaced. Conflict broke out again in 2016 and this led to the signing of a peace agreement in 2018 and the formation of the transitional government of national unity inaugurated in February 2020, with Kiir as President and Machar as the First Vice President.

Due to ongoing conflicts in the country, lack of proper security arrangements, political will among others has largely contributed to the stalemate in peace implementation.

The Security Council demands all the parties to immediately cease all forms of violence, human rights violations, and abuses including rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence and called on the government of South Sudan to hold the perpetrators to account.