The UN Security Council yesterday passed a resolution giving its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan new powers to participate in the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission set up as part of South Sudan's new peace agreement and to support the ceasefire monitoring teams currently headed by the regional body IGAD.

According to the resolution, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) shall “actively participate in the work of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.”

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission is a body created by the August peace agreement comprising representatives of the parties to the agreement, other South Sudanese stakeholders, and regional and international guarantors and “partners”. The JMEC will be chaired “by a prominent African personality appointed by the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government in consultation with IGAD-PLUS Partners” – an appointment that is yet to be made.

South Sudan's latest peace agreement gives the JMEC responsibility for monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the agreement, including the adherence of the parties to the agreed timelines and implementation schedule.

The UN Security Council has also mandated UNISS will also participate in and support the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), which will be the successor to the IGAD monitoring mission. Specifically, UNMISS will help “to monitor the separation, assembly and cantonment of forces consistent with Chapter II, paragraph 2.4 of the Agreement.

UNMISS peacekeepers will proide “mobile and dedicated fixed site security to IGAD’s MVM [Monitoring and Verification Mission] and the CTSAMM.” Also the UN Mission is tasked to monitor the withdrawal of Uganda forces from South Sudanese territory, from everywhere except Western Equatoria, where they are authorized to remain.

Other mandated tasks of the UN Mission include those previously given to it, such as protecting civilians from any party, monitoring human rights abuses and improving security conditions to allow the delivery. of humanitarian aid.

In another development, the Security Council requested the UN Secretary-General to make available "technical assistance to the African Union Commission and South Sudanese government to set up the hybrid court and truth commission that are explained in Chapter V of South Sudan's peace agreement.