The United Nations Security Council yesterday renewed the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for another six months.

There are few changes from the previous mandate, passed in May, which focuses on protection of civilians, including facilitating access for people who have been displaced to return to their homes, investigating and reporting on human rights violations. UNMISS is also charged with creating conditions for access to humanitarian assistance and supporting the implementation of a peace agreement.

The new resolution emphasizes the UN’s support for the peace process currently underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and calls for “an open and fully inclusive national dialogue seeking to establish lasting peace, reconciliation and good governance.” 

There was a new request for more UNMISS engagement with communities, in an effort to improve the mission’s early warning system.

The Security Council promised consistent reviews of the mandate over the upcoming six months.