The UN mission in South Sudan is urging local committees to assist the peacekeeping force to discharge its mandate that includes the protection of civilians.
Hilde Johnson, the head of UNMISS, the UN Mission in South Sudan, said the body hopes to initiate an active and close involvement of the communities and counties while implementing its mandate.Ms. Johnson made these statements in Torit on Friday while addressing representatives from the civil society, faith based and nongovernmental organizations.
She explained that UNMISS has a new mandate with a new mission and new approaches that will include consultations with an advisory council of members including churches leaders, civil society representatives and traditional leaders.
She added that the UN Police will be deployed all over the country to work hand in hand with South Sudan Police Services.
Ms. Johnson revealed that the UNMISS mandate includes security and conflict resolution, political transition and peace consolidation through inclusiveness, representative government, ensuring political space with a very strong human rights component.
She said that implementation of UNMISS mandate involves the state, civil society, Church leaders and other parties dealing in conflict mitigation.
Ms. Johnson stressed the UNMISS mandate also includes state consolidation, expansion of state authority and working with other peace partners to enable development.
She added that the Mission is still discussing with the government the modalities to implement the mandate.