South Sudan PKO (UNMISS)

Before the independence of South Sudan, the conflict between the Sudanese government (Islam and Arabic) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (Christian and African) lasted for decades. Allegedly, about two million people were sacrificed. In January 2005, both side signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the conflict came to an end. In March 2005, the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) was established, and it had the duties including support of the CPA. Japan had dispatched two SDF personnel as UNMIS staff officer since October 2008. In January 2011, about 99% of the total of valid ballots endorsed the independence of the Southern part of Sudan from Sudan as the result of local referendum with support from UNMIS. The Sudanese government accepted this result in February 2011.

UNMIS completed its mission in light of independence of South Sudan on July 9th, 2011. On the other hand, the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) was organized aiming at establishing peace and safety as well as supporting in creating suitable environment for South Sudan’s development. Based on the request from the Secretary General of the UN, Japan has dispatched staff officers since November 2011 and the engineer unit since January 2012. It has been expected that the Japanese contingent would contribute to South Sudan’s self-sustaining development by improving infrastructure and so on which are the SDF’s strength. While the contingent has conducted engineer activities such as improvement of the UN sites, road repair, and site preparation for international organizations, they have cooperated with ODA and NGOs.