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.

Kenyan battalion awarded UN medals

20 Mar 2011

Kenyan battalion awarded UN medals

17 March 2011 - Force Commander Maj. Gen. Moses Bisong Obi awarded UN medals to 723 UNMIS Kenyan Contingent Officers, Men and Women for military services provided to the peacekeeping mission.

During a ceremony held at the Kenyan battalion's 19 parade square in the Western Bahr El-Ghazal state capital of Wau, Maj. Gen. Obi acknowledged their role in the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the UNMIS mandate.

"This medal is in recognition of the duties rendered by the military contingent," he said.

Members of the Area Joint Military Committee who included three Sudan Armed Forces officers, three Sudan People's Liberation Army officers and two Southern Sudan Police Services officers also received commendation certificates

The Force Commander lauded them for preserving peace in the area and their active role in implementing security arrangements throughout the greater Bahr El-Ghazal region.

"I am very delighted with the presence of the Force Commander to grace this occasion," said Brig. Gen. Johnson Ondieki, the Wau-based Kenyan Contingent Commander.

Brig Gen Ondieki also acknowledged the role played by the Kenyan Contingent in providing force protection to all the UNMIS team sites, installations and patrols in the greater Bahr El-Ghazal region.

Kenyan military contingents joined UNMIS in Sudan in 2005 after the signing of the CPA, and Brig. Gen. Ondieki noted that the Kenyan military's first participation in a peacekeeping mission occurred in Chad in 1979.