Security Council renews mandate of UN mission in South Sudan

The UN Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan ( UNMISS) for a period of six months until Nov. 30 this year.

In a resolution unanimously adopted here, the council decides to renew the mandate of UNMISS and authorizes the mission to use all necessary means to protect civilians, investigate human rights, help with the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and support the implementation of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

Alarmed by the worsening political, security and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, the Security Council expressed serious concern over the more than two million displaced persons in the country, according to the resolution.

The Security Council "urges all parties to engage in an open and fully inclusive national dialogue seeking to establish lasting peace, reconciliation and good governance," said the resolution.

UNMISS was established by the council on July 9, 2011, the day when South Sudan became an independent country after decades of civil war between the north and south of Sudan, which ended in 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Political in-fighting between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, started in mid-December 2013 and subsequently turned into a full-fledged conflict.

There have been alarming reports of gross violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law since the escalation of fighting on April 29, including killings, rapes, abduction and the burning and destruction of towns and villages in various counties, according to Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Endite