UN Security Council extends South Sudan mission mandate for 1 year

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN Security Council on Monday extended a mandate for UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for one year.

The Council voted 13 in favor to extend the mission until April 30, 2025 with permanent members Russia and China abstaining.

The resolution seeks to uphold a maximum capacity of 17,000 troops and 2,101 police personnel in total. It also comes at a crucial time as South Sudan prepares for its first post-independence elections.

China's deputy representative to the UN, Dai Bing, told the Council that the resolution "puts too much pressure" on the South Sudan government, while making judgments "beyond reasonable limits."

China further criticized the US for ignoring their calls for amendments, and said the penholder "should display inclusiveness, remain objective and impartial."

Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative for Political Affairs, Anna Evstigneeva, hailed UNMISS role in South Sudan, however, rejected broadening of the mandate mission which she referred to as an "already complex" one.

Saying that the resolution text is full of wording "focused on domestic politics," the Russian envoy accused the US for "undermining" trust.