Govt. urged to advocate for extension of UNMISS mandate

By Chol Chanyong
Civil society activist and Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani has called on the government to cooperate with the United Nations to ensure that UNMISS is granted a long-term mandate.
“As an activist, I would like to address the government leadership with the following appeal: During the additional nine days of technical extension of the current mission’s mandate, pending a long-term extension, I would like to urge the government to cooperate with UN members to ensure that it becomes a long-term mandate.”
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for nine days, until May 9, amid escalating tensions between the country’s political leaders. The short-term extension, unanimously approved by Resolution 2778 (2025), allows the mission to continue using “all necessary means” to carry out its tasks beyond the original expiration date of its mandate on April 30.
This step gives the Council more time to deliberate on a long-term extension of UNMISS.
“We do not want to see any obstruction to the mission’s work in protecting civilians, which is the core mandate of its presence in South Sudan,” Yakani said. “This is to reduce intercommunal violence, promote the political transition process leading to elections in December 2026, and contribute to the promotion of human rights and the rule of law in the country.”
Yakani urged the government to demonstrate strong political will and commitment to the political transition by granting the UN mission a long-term mandate, and blamed the government for its failure to protect the people.
“Ensuring security, safety, and the protection of civilians is the primary responsibility of the government, but the government has failed to deliver on this. That is why we have the UN mission as a complement and reinforcement to the government’s role.”
He explained, “This appeal is directed to His Excellency the President to ensure that we allow the mission to play a complementary and supportive role in fulfilling the government’s responsibility to provide security, safety, human rights, good governance, and a peaceful democratic transition from violence to peace.”
Yakani expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the UN Security Council and its members for their decision to technically extend the mandate of UNMISS for an additional nine days, acknowledging the role played by the UN in protecting civilians in South Sudan.
“We are aware that UNMISS has done a lot of positive and progressive work in preventing inter-communal violence, protecting civilians, expanding political participation among the various political components in South Sudan, protecting human rights, and promoting the rule of law.” The UN Mission in South Sudan was first established in 2011 under Resolution 1996 to support peacekeeping efforts in South Sudan after its independence. The Security Council has renewed its mandate annually since then, citing ongoing threats to regional security.