Extension of the Deployment Term of the International Peace Cooperation Corps Members to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)

June 24, 2011
Japanese

On June 24, 2011, the Cabinet made a decision to extend the deployment term of the two personnel of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) for three more months until September 30, 2011.
Under the International Peace Cooperation Law, Japan has deployed two SDF personnel to the UNMIS Headquarters as staff officers, since October 2008. In response to the UN Security Council's resolution in April 2011 extending the mandate of UNMIS until July 9, the Government of Japan decided to extend the term to deploy the SDF personnel to UNMIS.
This deployment of the SDF personnel to UNMIS contributes to consolidating peace in Sudan as well as to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Sudan. As Sudan faces the critical juncture of ending the CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement) interim period on July 9 and the expected independence of South Sudan, the Government of Japan considers that it is vital to continuously contribute to peacekeeping efforts in Sudan as a responsible member of the international community.

[Notes]
1. Overview of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
On January 9, 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) ending the long civil conflict between Northern and Southern Sudan. In response to the CPA, UNMIS was established in March 2005 on UN Security Council resolution 1590, mainly to support the two signatory parties to implement the CPA process with the strength of up to 10,000 military personnel. In order to implement the significant challenges in the CPA, such as demarcation of the North-South border, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), election and referenda, etc., the international community is required to continue to support the efforts by the two parties.

(1) Date of establishment: March 24, 2005 (UN Security Council resolution 1590)
(2) Expiry date of mandate: July 9, 2011 (UN Security Council resolution 1978)
(3) Mandates
   (a) Supporting the implementation of the CPA;
   (b) Facilitation and coordination for the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons;
   (c) Humanitarian demining assistance, technical advice and coordination;
   (d) Contribution to and coordination of international efforts to protect promote human rights and to protect civilians; and others
(4) Troops and Police Contributing Countries and total strength (as of the end of April, 2011)
   (a) 68 countries (including China, the Republic of Korea and the G8 countries except France and Italy, which contributed troops to the UNMIS in the past).
   (b) 10,429 military personnel.

2. The posts of the Japanese Staff Officers in UNMIS
The Government of Japan has deployed following two Staff Officers to the UNMIS since October 2008.
(1) One Logistic Officer at the Logistics Planning Office, Force Headquarters, and
(2) One Database Manager in the Joint Mission Analysis Cell (JMAC)

3. Extension of Deployment Term
The deployment term of the SDF personnel is extended until September 30 as the Mission and the SDF personnel are expected to engage in liquidation works, while the mandate of UNMIS will end on July 9, 2011.

(* This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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