United Nations Mission in South Sudan#2014

{{Politics of South Sudan}}

The stated UNMISS Mandate{{cite web|url=https://unmiss.unmissions.org/mandate|title=UNMISS Mandate – United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan |date=16 October 2015 |publisher=UN|access-date=22 December 2017}} includes:

• Support for peace consolidation and thereby fostering longer-term statebuilding and economic development
• Support the Government of the Republic of South Sudan in exercising its responsibilities for conflict prevention, mitigation, and resolution and protect civilians
• Support the Government of the Republic of South Sudan in developing its capacity to provide security, to establish rule of law, and to strengthen the security and justice sectors.

The mission was established by Security Council Resolution 1996{{cite web | url=https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1996(2011)|title=S/RES/1996 (2011) | publisher=UN | access-date=10 April 2013}} and extended to 15 July 2013 by Resolution 2057.{{cite web| url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unmiss/documents/UNMISS%20SRSG%20Juba%20Presser%20060712.pdf|title=Near Verbatim Transcript of Press Conference hosting United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, Ms. Hilde F. Johnson|publisher=UNMISS| access-date=10 April 2013}}

As per Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the peacekeeping mission is concerned with the protection of civilians, and thus is not mandated to engage in protection of South Sudan's territory or the sovereignty of that territory (cf. the 2012 South Sudan–Sudan border war).

• Special Representative and Head of UNMISS: Nicholas Haysom (South Africa)
• Deputy Special Representative (Political) and Deputy Head of UNMISS: Guang Cong (China)
• Deputy Special Representative (Humanitarian), Resident Coordinator, and Humanitarian Coordinator: Sara Beysolow Nyanti (Liberia){{Cite web |title=Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator {{!}} United Nations Secretary-General |url=https://www.un.org/sg/en/node/261186#:~:text=United%20Nations%20Secretary-General%20Ant%C3%B3nio,Ms. |access-date=2021-12-22 |website=www.un.org}}
• Force Commander of UNMISS: Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian (India)
• Deputy Force Commander: Major General Main Ullah Chowdhury (Bangladesh)
• Police Commissioner : Christine Fossen (Norway){{Cite web|last=nordiceditor|date=2021-09-02|title=Norwegian appointed UN Police chief in South Sudan|url=https://unric.org/en/norwegian-appointed-un-police-chief-in-south-sudan/|access-date=2021-12-22|website=United Nations Western Europe|language=en-US}}
• Deputy Police Commissioner : Mutasem Almajali (Jordan){{Cite web|date=2021-04-26|title=UNMISS Deputy Police Commissioner visits displaced persons camp in Bentiu|url=https://unmiss.unmissions.org/unmiss-deputy-police-commissioner-visits-displaced-persons-camp-bentiu|access-date=2021-12-22|website=UNMISS|language=en}}

Force Commanders

UN Security Council resolution 2132 (24 December 2013) authorised a military component of up to 12,500 troops, and a police component of up to 1,323.{{cite web|title=Resolution 2132 (2013)|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2132(2013)|publisher=United Nations Security Council|access-date=21 April 2014}}

India has supplied 2,237 troops; the Deputy Force Commander is India's Brigadier Asit Mistry,{{cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/un-resolution-addresses-indian-concerns-in-south-sudan-violence_899400.html |title=UN resolution addresses Indian concerns in South Sudan violence |date=25 December 2013 |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |access-date=22 April 2014}} while the force commander is Ghana's Major General Delali Johnson Sakyi.{{cite web|title=Arrival of UNMISS force commander Maj. Gen. Delali Johnson Sakyi|url=https://unmiss.unmissions.org/arrival-unmiss-force-commander-maj-gen-delali-johnson-sakyi|publisher=UNMISS|date=14 January 2013|access-date=22 December 2017}} Other contributors of troops are

Australia,{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/Operations/SouthSudan/default.asp|title=Operation Aslan|access-date=22 December 2017|publisher=Australian Dept of Defence}} Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.{{cite web|title=UNMISS Fact Sheet|url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/unmiss|publisher=UNMISS|access-date=22 December 2017}}

Police have been contributed by Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, India, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

{{main|United Nations Flight 544 shootdown}}

In a July 2012 speech, a day after the extension of the mission, Hilde F. Johnson spoke in Juba about the progress of UNMISS. Johnson discussed the mission's protection of civilians and the documenting and verification of incidents. Johnson discussed the January 2012 Lou Nuer attacks in Jonglei State whereby the actions of UNMISS in deploying peacekeepers and alerting the South Sudanese government resulted in "thousands of civilian lives [being] saved", as well as progress in areas such as policing, justice and democracy.

On 21 December 2012, a civilian UNMISS helicopter was shot down over Jonglei State. All four Russian crew-members on board the aircraft were killed.{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/12/202369.htm |title=Attack of an UNMISS Helicopter in South Sudan|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=21 December 2012|access-date=10 April 2013}}

On 9 April, five Indian UNMISS troops and seven civilian UN employees (two UN staff and five contractors) were killed in a rebel ambush{{cite news| url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/04/201349115743552270.html|title=UN peacekeepers killed in South Sudan ambush|newspaper=Al Jazeera|date=10 April 2013|access-date=10 April 2013}} in Jonglei while escorting a UN convoy between Pibor and Bor.{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-09/india/38402918_1_jonglei-south-sudan-unmiss|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412064053/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-09/india/38402918_1_jonglei-south-sudan-unmiss|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 April 2013|title=Five Indian peacekeepers killed in South Sudan ambush |newspaper=The Times of India|date=10 April 2013|access-date=10 April 2013|author=Pandit, Rajat}} Nine further UN employees, both military and civilian, were wounded and some remain missing. Four of the civilians killed were Kenyan contractors working to drill water boreholes.{{cite news|title=Gunmen kill 4 Kenyans on Sudan water drilling mission|url=http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Gunmen-kill-4-Kenyans-on-Sudan-water-drilling-mission--/-/539546/1745228/-/o5u9d1z/-/index.html|access-date=10 April 2013|newspaper=Business Daily Africa|date=10 April 2013}} One of the dead soldiers was a lieutenant-colonel and one of the wounded was a captain.{{cite news|title=Bodies of five martyrs likely to reach India tonight|url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/bodies-of-five-martyrs-likely-to-reach-india-tonight-693364.html|access-date=10 April 2013|newspaper=First Post|date=10 April 2013}} According to South Sudan's military spokesman, the convoy was attacked by David Yau Yau's rebel forces that they believe are supported by the Sudanese government. UNMISS said that 200 armed men were involved in the attack and that their convoy was escorted by 32 Indian UN peacekeepers. The attackers were equipped with rocket propelled grenades.

A UN spokesman said that the fierce resistance put up by Indian peacekeepers forced the rebels to withdraw and saved the lives of many of the civilians.{{cite news|last=Associated Press|title=5 UN peacekeepers, 7 others killed in gunfire attack in South Sudan, officials say|url=https://calgary.citynews.ca/2013/04/09/military-official-says-5-un-peacekeepers-7-others-killed-in-gunfire-attack-in-south-sudan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106043029/https://calgary.citynews.ca/2013/04/09/military-official-says-5-un-peacekeepers-7-others-killed-in-gunfire-attack-in-south-sudan/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 November 2021 |access-date=6 November 2021 |newspaper=City News|date=9 April 2013}} UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the killings a war crime, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.{{cite news|last=Dikshit|first=Sandeep|title=Killing of peacekeepers a war crime: Ban ki-Moon|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/killing-of-peacekeepers-a-war-crime-ban-kimoon/article4599333.ece|access-date=9 April 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 April 2013|location=Chennai, India}} United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Anthony Banbury praised the bravery of the Indian soldiers.{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/indian-soldiers-killed-in-sudan-fought-valiantly-un-assistant-secretary-general-to-ndtv-353803| title=Indian soldiers killed in Sudan fought valiantly: UN Assistant Secretary General to NDTV}} India's Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, paid his tribute to the "brave soldiers".{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-regrets-killing-of-indian-soldiers-on-un-peacekeeping-mission-in-south-sudan-518627|title=PM regrets killing of Indian soldiers on UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan|website=NDTV.com}} About 2,200 Indian Army personnel are deployed in South Sudan as a part of the UNMISS mission.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bodies-of-indian-soldiers-killed-in-sudan-to-arrive-in-delhi-tonight-518605|title=Bodies of Indian soldiers killed in Sudan to arrive in Delhi tonight|website=NDTV.com}}

Fighting that spread as a result of the 2013 South Sudanese coup d'état attempt led to the deaths of two Indian peacekeepers, while another soldier was wounded in Akobo, Jonglei, on 19 December.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/video/africa/2013/12/cloneofpeacekeepers-killed-at-south-sudan-un-base-20131220131338939488.html |title=Peacekeepers killed at South Sudan UN base – Africa |publisher=Al Jazeera English |access-date=22 April 2014}} On 24 December, the UNSC voted to nearly double the existing 7,600 troops in the mission, with another approximately 6,000 troops to be added.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/25/world/africa/south-sudan-crisis.html?src=recg | work=The New York Times | first=Nicholas | last=Kulish | title=Political Fight in South Sudan Targets Civilians | date=24 December 2013}}

The UN Secretary General expressed deep concern as UN staff received threats from the body guards of Senior government Information Minister that demanded armed access to UN Mission Camps where civilians are sheltering.{{cite web | first1 = Philip | last1 = Aleu | first2 = Lucy | last2 = Poni | url =https://www.voaafrica.com/a/south-sudan-unmiss-bars-access-official-weapons-displaced/1833983.html |title= UN Bars South Sudan Official from Camp for Displaced |publisher = Voa news | date = 21 January 2014 | access-date =22 April 2014}} Following this incident President Salva Kiir accused the UN of sheltering armed opposition forces in their UN Mission, which the UN denied. Salva Kiir also accused the UN of an attempted take over of his leadership.{{cite web|url= https://www.voanews.com/a/south-sudan-unmiss-ban-salva-kiir-accuses-takeover/1834728.html | title = South Sudan President: UN Seeking to Take Over |publisher=Voa news | date = 22 January 2014 |access-date=22 April 2014}}{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25826598 |title= South Sudan President Salva Kiir hits out at UN |publisher = BBC | work = News | date =21 January 2014 |access-date= 22 April 2014}}

On Thursday 17 April 2014, 58 people were killed and at least 100 people wounded when an armed mob stormed the UN base in Bor.{{cite news|last=Lederer|first=Edith M|title=UN Says 58 Killed in Attack on UN Base in SSudan|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/58-killed-attack-base-ssudan-23384020|access-date=18 April 2014|newspaper=abc|date=18 April 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27074635|title=South Sudan conflict: Attack on UN base 'kills dozens' |access-date=18 April 2014|newspaper=BBC News|date=17 April 2014}} A crowd of people who pretended they were visiting the base to present a peaceful petition opened fire on some of the 5,000 civilians who had taken shelter in the UN base.{{cite news|title=South Sudan attack on UN base leaves dozens injured|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/17/south-sudan-clashes-dozens-injured|access-date=18 April 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 April 2014|agency=AFP}} Of those killed, 48 were civilians, while 10 were among the attackers. The violence reflected tension between the ethnic Dinka and Nuer peoples;{{cite news|title=South Sudanese soldiers sent to protect UN base after more than 48 killed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/18/south-sudanese-soldiers-protect-un-base-48-killed|access-date=18 April 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 April 2014|agency=Reuters}} before the attack, a crowd of local Dinkas had demanded the thousands of Nuer sheltering in the camp be relocated elsewhere.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasised that any attack on UN peacekeepers constituted "a war crime". The UN Security Council expressed "outrage" at the attack, saying:{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Steve|title=Deadly attack on South Sudan base may be considered a 'war crime'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/south-sudan/10775859/Deadly-attack-on-South-Sudan-base-may-be-considered-a-war-crime.html|access-date=19 April 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 April 2014}}{{cite web|title=Attacks against the United Nations and civilians in South Sudan: Security Council Press Statement|url=https://newyork-un.mae.lu/en/News/Attacks-against-the-United-Nations-and-civilians-in-South-Sudan-Security-Council-Press-Statement|publisher=Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the United Nations|access-date=19 April 2014|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831022452/https://newyork-un.mae.lu/en/News/Attacks-against-the-United-Nations-and-civilians-in-South-Sudan-Security-Council-Press-Statement|url-status=dead}}

The members of the Security Council expressed their outrage at the recent attacks by armed groups in South Sudan that have purposefully targeted civilians as well as UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) sites and personnel, in particular 17 April attack against the UNMISS compound in Bor that resulted in scores of dead and injured, including those seeking the shelter and protection of the United Nations, and 14 April attacks in Bentiu and Unity State.

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms these acts and underscored that attacks on civilians and UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime.

In June 2014, Vietnam participated in UNMISS as their first official peacekeeping mission by sending officers from the Vietnam People's Army.{{cite web |url=https://english.vov.vn/politics/vietnam-joins-un-peacekeeping-mission-in-south-sudan-277616.vov |title=Vietnam joins UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan |date=12 June 2014 |website=english.vov.vn |publisher=Voice of Vietnam |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921140533/https://english.vov.vn/politics/vietnam-joins-un-peacekeeping-mission-in-south-sudan-277616.vov |archive-date=21 September 2020}}

As part of its mandate to conduct human rights reporting, UNMISS released a report in mid-2015 on an alleged campaign of violence by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and associated armed groups in Unity State. The report cited witness accounts of abductions, rapes, and people being killed and burned alive in dwellings.{{Cite news|url = https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51296#.ViB43dIrLIU|title = New levels of 'brutality' in South Sudan, says UN rights report|date = 30 June 2015|work = UN News Centre|access-date = 16 October 2015}}

UNMISS continued to struggle to cope with the large populations of internally displaced people living within the 'Protection of Civilians' (PoC) sites in 2015. The mission was accused in May 2015 of failing to secure the perimeter of the Bentiu PoC site during an expansion of the site led by the International Organisation for Migration.{{Cite news|url = https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/un-delays-leave-protection-area-unfenced-amid-horrific-violence-s-sudans-unity-state|title = UN delays leave protection area unfenced amid horrific violence in S Sudan's Unity State|date = 22 May 2015|work = Radio Tamazuj|access-date = 16 October 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208154740/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/un-delays-leave-protection-area-unfenced-amid-horrific-violence-s-sudans-unity-state|archive-date = 8 December 2015|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}

Ban Ki-moon requested an independent investigation of the deployment be made following reports that on 11 July South Sudanese troops rampaged through the capital, killing and raping civilians and foreign aid workers. The event had occurred following three days of fighting between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers aligned with former Vice President Riek Machar that resulted in the deaths of 300 civilians and two UN peacekeepers. Led by Patrick Cammaert, the investigation found that the force suffered from disorganization and a lack of leadership. Ban Ki-moon requested on 1 November that Lieutenant General Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki, the Kenyan force commander, be replaced as soon as possible.{{cite web| url = https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/01/500239640/a-chaotic-and-ineffective-response-to-the-violence-by-u-n-in-south-sudan?utm_source| title = A 'Chaotic And Ineffective Response to the Violence' By U.N. In South Sudan| last = Hersher| first = Rebecca| date = 1 November 2016| publisher = National Public Radio| access-date = 2 November 2016}} The next day the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the United Nations of using Ondieki as a scapegoat and announced that it would be withdrawing all of its forces from South Sudan.{{cite web| url = https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/kenya-withdraws-troops-mission-south-sudan-161102165506898.html| title = Kenya withdraws troops from UN mission in South Sudan| date = 2 November 2016| publisher = Al Jazeera| access-date = 2 November 2016}}

Head of UNMISS, Ellen Margrethe Løj, completed her assignment in November 2016 and was replaced by David Shearer.{{cite web|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/new-unmiss-chief-arrives-south-sudan|title=New UNMISS chief arrives in South Sudan|publisher=radio tamazuj|access-date=20 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202003910/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/new-unmiss-chief-arrives-south-sudan|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=dead}}

In 2016, the United Kingdom began Operation Trenton, a deployment of over 300 personnel to support UNMISS. It concluded in 2020.{{cite news |title=Operation TRENTON: The British Army in South Sudan |url=https://www.warfare.today/2017/07/24/operation-trenton-the-british-army-in-south-sudan/ |access-date=29 March 2022 |work=Medium |date=24 July 2017}}

Japanese peacekeepers left South Sudan, ending five years of their mandate under UNMISS.{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/03/japan-self-defense-force-withdraws-from-south-sudan/|title=Japan Self-Defense Force Withdraws From South Sudan|first=Yuki|last=Tatsumi|website=thediplomat.com}} The withdrawals were done in April 2017, followed by two withdrawals in May with Chief Cabinet Suga denying that it was made due to security matters.{{cite web|url=http://www.humanosphere.org/world-politics/2017/04/japan-begins-pull-troops-south-sudan-peacekeeping-mission/|title=Japan begins to pull troops from South Sudan peacekeeping mission|date=17 April 2017|access-date=9 October 2017|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123074936/https://www.humanosphere.org/world-politics/2017/04/japan-begins-pull-troops-south-sudan-peacekeeping-mission/|url-status=dead}}

Their deployment was a part of the Abe government's efforts to promote new laws for Japanese peacekeepers to easily intervene, such as assisting fellow peacekeepers and civilians working under UNMISS mandate.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/12/12/national/politics-diplomacy/japanese-peacekeepers-take-new-role-south-sudan/|title=Japanese peacekeepers take up new role in South Sudan|date=12 December 2016|via=Japan Times Online|access-date=9 October 2017|archive-date=3 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203021221/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/12/12/national/politics-diplomacy/japanese-peacekeepers-take-new-role-south-sudan/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/reinterpreting-article-9-enhancing-japans-engagement-in-un-peacekeeping/|title=Reinterpreting Article 9: enhancing Japan's engagement in UN peacekeeping – The Strategist|date=10 July 2014}}

The Japanese MOD is accusing of covering up the security situation in Juba.{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/07/tomomi-inada-japans-defense-minister-resigns-following-weeks-of-scandal/|title=Tomomi Inada, Japan's Defense Minister, Resigns Following Weeks of Scandal|first=Ankit Panda, The|last=Diplomat}}

In December 2017, the mission closed down the first Protection of Civilian site (PoC) in Melut town after IDPs voluntarily requested to return home.{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/21/c_136841049.htm |title=UN mission closes first civilian protection site in S. Sudan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227235345/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/21/c_136841049.htm |archive-date=27 December 2017 |date=21 December 2017 |access-date=21 July 2018}}

On 15 January 2021, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced Haysom's appointment as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).[https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sga2014.doc.htm Secretary-General Appoints Nicholas Haysom of South Africa Special Representative in South Sudan] United Nations.

{{As of|2025|02|28}}, the total number of personnel in the mission is 15,465:{{Cite web |title=Troop and police contributors |url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/troop-and-police-contributors |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=United Nations Peacekeeping |language=en}}

As stated, the UNMISS has been present in the country since its independence in 2011. However, as demonstrated throughout the mission's history, there were numerous incidents that point towards an inability of the peacekeeping forces to protect civilians. In general, scholars such as Weinstein question the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions,{{cite web|last1=Weinstein|first1=Jeremy M.|title=Autonomous Recovery and International Intervention in Comparative Perspective|date=2005|url=https://www.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/2731_file_WP57.pdf}} and it is not difficult to find a peacekeeping "fiasco"{{cite journal|last1=Fearon and Laitin|title=Neotrusteeship and the Problem of Weak States|journal=International Security|date=2004|volume=28|issue=4 |pages=5–43|doi=10.1162/0162288041588296|s2cid=57559356}} among the numerous peacekeeping missions undertaken within the history of the United Nations. While it is only possible to speculate on counterfactuals for the assessment and evaluation of peacekeeping missions and their effectiveness{{cite book|last1=Fortna|first1=Virginia Page|title=Does Peacekeeping Work? Shaping Belligerents' Choices after Civil War.|date=2008|publisher=Princeton University Press|location=Princeton}} – i.e. we do not know what the situation in South Sudan would look like if the UN had not deployed peacekeeping forces – an article published in the New York Times has called for an alternative international intervention for South Sudan.{{cite web|last1=Gettleman|first1=Jeffrey|title=Quandary in South Sudan: Should It Lose Its Hard-Won Independence?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/world/africa/quandary-in-south-sudan-should-it-lose-its-hard-won-independence.html?_r=1|work=New York Times|access-date=18 May 2017}} Thereby, the alternatives for international interventions are numerous. The article mentions trusteeship as a potential solution to the violent chaos in South Sudan. This form of international intervention was prominently discussed by Fearon and Laitin.{{cite journal|last1=Fearon and Laitin|title=Neotrusteeship and the Problem of Weak States|journal=International Security|date=2004|volume=28|issue=4|pages=5–43|doi=10.1162/0162288041588296|s2cid=57559356}}

The authors thereby suggest a system of neo-trusteeship, in which peacekeeping efforts should be oriented towards state building under the coordination of a leading (outside) state. This state building should encompass the establishment of institutions that are necessary for increasing South Sudan's capability for collecting taxes, which could increase the governance capacity of the country. To prevent a new civil war in South Sudan, according to Fearon and Laitin's neo-trusteeship approach, a continuous international monitoring and support system might be required. The New York Times article states that some South Sudanese would not tolerate such an international trusteeship and might see it as colonialism.

Furthermore, as pointed out by Weinstein, neo-trusteeship is a post-conflict international intervention. As South Sudan was still in the midst of a bloody conflict {{as of|2005|lc=yes}}, Weinstein suggested refraining from any kind of international intervention and leaving the South Sudanese to solve their conflict autonomously ("autonomous recovery"), usually through the victory of one of the conflict parties over the other.

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|United Nations Mission in South Sudan}}

• [http://unmiss.unmissions.org/ United Nations Mission in South Sudan]
• [https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unmiss/ United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan] at the UN

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