File photo: Permanent Representative of South Sudan to the United Nations, Akuei Bona Malual

The Permanent Representative of South Sudan to the United Nations has criticized a resolution mandating UNMISS to provide assistance towards the preparation for elections, only if necessary conditions are met.

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday extended its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan for another year.

The Security Council resolved that it can only support South Sudan’s first general elections if the necessary provisions to create a conducive environment are implemented.

They underscored that elections should be viewed as a phased approach and that UNMISS should focus in the near term on key conditions.

These include the prevention of a further escalation of political violence, creation of favorable conditions for an inclusive, constitutional drafting and review process; and the prerequisite inclusive civil space to conduct free and fair elections.

Reacting to the resolution, Akuei Bona Malwal, the permanent representative of South Sudan to the United Nations protested the preconditions on electoral assistance set by the UNSC.

Malual said his country is faced with many issues and that the adopted resolution was not balanced and did not reflect the realities on the ground.

“We are grateful for receiving United Nations acceptance to extend the necessary assistance towards the preparation for the elections. However, the resolution just adopted made the assistance conditional which does not conform to the spirit and letter of the United Nations,” he said.

Akuei Bona Malwal said South Sudan will not give up its sovereign rights despite the many challenges it endures.

He added that if the penholder – the United States – had considered proposals from other delegations, the adopted resolution would have been more balanced and would have reflected the realities on the ground.

“If the penholder [USA] had considered proposals from my delegation and those from the council members, the text just adopted would have been more balanced and reflective of facts and realities on the ground in South Sudan.”

“Therefore, we encourage the penholder to have a collaborative spirit in the coming resolutions.”

Thirteen members voted Wednesday in favor of the extension and two abstained over the incorporation of certain language while raising issues regarding the penholder’s approach.

The two abstained countries are China and the Russian Federation

The UN Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote.

The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression.

It called upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement.

In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.