Security Council extends UNMIS mandate

Following a recommendation by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan earlier this month, the UN Security Council extended on Friday the mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) for a further six months. The Council decided, through resolution 1627 (2005), to extend UNMIS' mandate until 24 March 2006, with the intention to "renew it for further periods". "I would like to thank my Special Representative [Jan Pronk] for his tireless efforts, as well as United Nations staff involved in working to help bring peace to all quarters of Sudan," said Annan, who recommended the extension in his 12 September report on Sudan to the Council. The Council established UNMIS in March 2005 to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by the Sudanese government and the former rebels of the southern Sudan People's Liberation movement/Army in January in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The agreement ended a civil war between northern and southern Sudan that had lasted 21 years. The Council further requested Annan to report to it every three months on the implementation of UNMIS' mandate, including its work to reinforce the efforts of the African Union Mission in Sudan to foster peace in the strife-torn western region of Darfur. Resolving to be "actively seized of the matter", the Council acknowledged the commitments by troop-contributing countries in support of UNMIS and encouraged deployment in order for the mission to support the timely implementation of the peace accord. The 9 January agreement was signed by Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir and the late first vice president of Sudan and chairman of SPLM/A, John Garang; it attempts to encourage wealth- and power-sharing in the oil-rich nation. The agreement, which began a six-year transitional period in the country, details protocols on sharing legislative power and natural resources. After the transitional period, south Sudan will vote to decide whether to remain politically united with the north or separate from it. UNMIS' mandate also includes monitoring and verifying the ceasefire agreement, helping to set up the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme for ex-combatants as well as promoting national reconciliation and human rights.