Closure of UNMIS

UNMIS wound up its operations on 9 July 2011 with the completion of the interim period agreed on by the Government of Sudan and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed on 9 January 2005.

The mission ended its six years of mandated operations the same day South Sudan declared independence, following a CPA-provided referendum on 9 January 2011 that voted overwhelmingly in favour of secession.

In support of the new nation, the Security Council established a successor mission to UNMIS – the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – on 9 July for an initial period of one year, with the intention to renew for further periods as required.

Four peacekeepers wounded in Abyei area attack

11 May 2011

Four peacekeepers wounded in Abyei area attack

11 May 2001 - Unknown assailants fired at an UNMIS patrol in the Abyei Area yesterday, injuring four Zambian peacekeepers.

A large group of armed men stopped the patrol at a roadblock in Goli village, about 25 kilometres north of Abyei town. The crowd was hostile and confrontational, and the patrol decided to turn back the way it had come. Soon after they had turned around and gotten underway, however, someone in the crowd opened fire.

UNMIS airlifted the wounded back to its compound in Abyei town. Three remained in Abyei while one was evacuated to Khartoum today for further treatment.

Armed men have blocked a UN supply convoy at the same location for several days, and turned back several UNMIS military and civilian patrols.

Sector Commander Lt. Col. Dammy Mwale called the attack cowardly and emphasized the need for political and community leaders to bring such armed groups under control.

In a press statement issued late on 10 May, UNMIS strongly condemned the unprovoked attack and has since begun an investigation. UNMIS convened an emergency session of the Area Joint Military Committee on 11 May, followed by an emergency session of the Abyei Area Security Committee.