United Nations Radio

The Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan for another year.

Civilians in Sudan

The mission, known as UNMIS, was set up in 2005 to support the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended a 21 year old civil war between north and south Sudan.

In his latest report on Sudan, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that if the agreement, the CPA, collapsed, a humanitarian catastrophe could ensue. He called on the international community to remain focused on ensuring implementation of the agreement, and for Sudan to reinstate aid groups which had been expelled.

The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said her country was also deeply concerned about the negative impact of Sudan's expulsions in March of 13 international aid organizations on the Three Areas - that is the oil-rich Abyei region, the Nuba mountains and the Blue Nile all in the north of the country .

RICE: The United States believes that there is no justification for the Government of Sudan's actions. The sudden expulsions of the NGOs put too many innocent civilians at grave risk. The government of Sudan bears primary responsibility for its people, and therefore we urge Sudan to take immediate steps to restore effective assistance to Sudan's most vulnerable civilians.

In its resolution renewing the mandate, the Council deplored what it called "persistent, localized conflict", in southern Sudan and adjacent regions, and called on the Mission to strengthen its capabilities in conflict management and protection of civilians, working with the conflict-resolution methods of tribal groups.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.

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