What is the role of UNMIS military?
The military component of UNMIS, with its strength of over 9,000 personnel, constitutes the bulk of UNMIS staff. This multinational force, which combines soldiers from 62 nations, is engaged in diverse peace keeping activities in keeping with the terms of the Security Council resolution.

Where is UNMIS military deployed?
Apart from the HQ in Khartoum and the Logisitcs Base in El Obeid, UNMIS Military is deployed across the ceasefire area as delineated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement as follows:

• Sector I: The Equatoria area, including the states of West Equatoria, Bahr Al Jabal and East Equatoria.
• Sector II: The Bahr el Ghazal Area, including the states of West Bahr el Ghazal, North Bahr el Ghazal, Warab and Al Buhairat. The Sector HQ is located in Wau.
• Sector III: The Upper Nile Area, including the states of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile. The Sector HQ is located in Malakal.
• Sector IV: Southern Kordofan state. The Sector HQ is located in Kadugli.
• Sector V: Blue Nile State. The Sector HQ is located in Ed Damazin.
• Sector VI: The Abyei area. The Sector HQ is located in Abyei town.

What is the role of the military?
The military’s fundamental tasks include monitoring and verifying lines of disengagement, assembly areas, redeployment of forces and formation of Joint Integrated Units (JIUs), a combination of SAF and SPLA forces. The military is tasked to protect UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its personnel.

Although protection of civilians is the responsibility of the sovereign Government of Sudan, UNMIS military is mandated to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, within the force’s capability. It also provides assistance to the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and supports the activities of UN programmes.

What are the ceasefire mechanisms?
These include the Ceasefire Joint Military Committee (CJMC) and JIU headquarters, which collocate with UNMIS Sector I headquarters in Juba.

The military also actively participates in and supports tArea Joint Military Committees, Joint Military Teams and a Joint Monitoring and Coordination Office to support the CJMC. All are ceasefire mechanisms stipulated in the CPA.

Other military units providing essential support to the mission include the military police; a heavy cargo transport capability; riverine, bridging, well-drilling aviation units; a military level hospital service; signals support; air load teams; aero-medical evacuation teams; and a movement control unit.

How is the military structured?
UN military personnel can be broadly classified under three categories – Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs), Staff Officers (SOs) and Military Observers (UNMOs). Forming the bulk of the force in six sectors, TCCs are primarily responsible for the protection of personnel and assets. Staff Officers mainly perform staff work at various headquarters for day-to-day operational functioning and sustenance of the force. UNMOs are the eyes and ears of UNMIS, entrusted with the crucial task of monitoring and verification. The multinational force is headed by Force Commander Major General Paban Jung Thapa.