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.

Sudan reopens railway line to Wau

14 Mar 2010

Sudan reopens railway line to Wau

In a bid to improve transportation links between different regions of the country, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir and First Vice-President and President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Salva Kiir Mayardit reopened a railway line on 11 March that once connected North and Southern Sudan.

Built in 1964 to link the Western Bahr El Ghazal state capital to the Southern Kordofan town of Babanusa, the railway line closed down in 1984 after the outbreak of Sudan's second civil war.

Its rehabilitation was financed by the Unity Support Fund, which was established to promote economic development throughout the north-south border areas with revenues derived from oil production in the disputed Abyei area.

"Today we witnessed that the train has reached Wau," President Bashir told a gathering of tens of thousands of people. "This is our special gift to the people of Wau in particular and to the people of Southern Sudan in general."

For his part, GoSS President Kiir declared his readiness "to work with President Bashir to bring peace and development to the people."

President Bashir mentioned the possibility of extending the railway line from Wau to the Southern Sudan border town of Nimule via Rumbek and Juba, a project that would cost an estimated $1.2 billion.