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.

UNMIS commemorates fallen peacekeepers

6 Apr 2011

UNMIS commemorates fallen peacekeepers

6 April 2001 – UNMIS and UN offices across the world today remembered peacekeepers who recently died while serving in Afghanistan, Haiti, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

To commemorate UN colleagues who lost their lives during the past week, the organization's flag was lowered to half mast at 4 p.m. today at UNMIS' Khartoum headquarters.

"It has been the heaviest toll that I know of in the last week," Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Jasbir Lidder said in Khartoum. "We gather here today to pay homage to our colleagues who lost their lives ... doing a very noble job towards peacekeeping."

Last Thursday, in Cote d'Ivoire, a UN Volunteer was fatally struck by a stray bullet, while in Haiti a UN Police officer was killed in a hit-and-run accident. On Friday, three UN staff and four Nepalese security personnel protecting them were brutally killed in Afghanistan. On Monday, a UN plane crashed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing 32 of 33 people on board. Yesterday, in Darfur, a peacekeeper was killed in an ambush.

"Such casualties are a great reminder of the challenges all of us face in this noble job that we do," Mr. Lidder said, and asked the gathering to observe a minute of silence for the departed.

In Juba, UNMIS staff members gathered outside the mission compound's Africa Conference Room to observe a minute of silence for the fallen colleagues. The mission's Regional Coordinator for Southern Sudan, David Gressly, delivered words of remembrance. A Bangladesh Battalion bugler played The Last Post as the memorial service concluded.

"Our fallen colleagues were working in the best tradition of the United Nations, far from home in dangerous places," Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said in message to UN staff on 4 April. "They gave their lives in the service of humanity; their dedication will continue to inspire us."