Rwandan peacekeepers serving in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) stand guard inside their compound in the capital Juba, July 20, 2016. (FILE).

Civil society activists are urging the United Nations to mandate its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan to be action-oriented to prevent the occurrence of violence.

This week, the UN Security Council is likely to renew the UNMISS mandate for another year, which is set to expire on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

The mandate included the protection of civilians threatened by violence, creating conditions to deliver humanitarian aid, and supporting the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

Others were to monitor, investigate and report violations of international humanitarian law, as well as abuses of human rights.

Ter Manyang Gatwech, the Chairman of the Civil Society Coalition on Defense of Civic Space says the mission only issued early warnings and statements after violence has taken place.

He cited the recent violence in the Upper Nile region.

“You know UNMISS always they just urge, and this word urge we are tired you know, they should do more actually,” Manyang said.

“They should prevent violence before it happens. After the violence, you know what happened in Upper Nile, they are just reporting about this number has been displaced and this number has been killed.”

“Why is it that they don’t prevent the violence in the first place? They should act, if it means preventing violence, they should prevent it. I think this is very important, they should not always just say warning, warning, warning, and then after warning and then the violence happens”.

Last year, the US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas Greenfield said she believed the UNMISS mandate extension would help create a path toward long-term stability and security in the country.