29 July 2016 - The Security Council today extended for two weeks the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), allowing time for its membership to consider options on adapting the operation’s mandate amid renewed violence in the world’s youngest country.

With the mandate of UNMISS set to expire in 48 hours, the Council unanimously approved a short extension – through 12 August.

The Council’s action comes as deadly clashes between rival factions loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar have, since early July, sent thousands of civilians fleeing the capital, Juba. UNMISS compounds and civilian protection sites have been attacked. The UN refugee agency has reported that thousands of South Sudanese, mostly women and children, have crossed into Uganda since fighting erupted, including an estimated 8,337 refugees on 21 July, setting a single-day record since the influx began in 2016.

For his part, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged calm on all sides and called on the leaders to do everything in their power to de-escalate the hostilities, saying the “renewed violence is outrageous. It is yet another grievous setback. It deepens the country’s suffering. It makes a mockery of commitments to peace.”

On 13 July, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous told the Security Council that given the unstable security situation in South Sudan following clashes between Government and opposition forces which left some 272 people, including 33 civilians, dead, the UN Mission there should be extended until the end of August to allow a rapid assessment on the need for a stronger mandate.

“The Secretary-General's recommendation for a technical roll-over of the UNMISS mandate remains valid and necessary, while we conduct an assessment of the requirements to address the situation on the ground,” he said, adding that the temporary arrangement would give the Secretariat time to do a quick assessment, consult the region and the African Union and make recommendations to the Council.