Canada's role in the Republic of South Sudan
Army News
As the people of South Sudan usher in a new era of independence, the CF are helping the nation transition to a safer, more secure future.
The independent Republic of South Sudan came into being July 9, 2011, after the people of South Sudan—98.3 percent of them—voted to separate from their northern neighbour. The UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) was established the same day to support peace consolidation and support the new government in providing security and justice while preventing, mitigating and resolving conflict.
In support of the new nation and the new UN mission, the CF formed Task Force Sudan, comprising 14 CF personnel who work with UNMISS. This Canadian contribution to UNMISS, under Operation SOPRANO, provides the UN with key staff officers at their force headquarters as well as military liaison officers spread throughout the Republic of South Sudan.
“Operation SOPRANO carries on the CF’s history of supporting peace and security in the region,” says Captain(N) Steve Virgin, Assistant Chief of Staff – International at Canadian Expeditionary Force Command HQ. “The Sudans are a priority mission. Our 14 CF personnel play an important role in the UN’s effort to consolidate peace and security in the Republic of South Sudan.”
With the exception of a brief period of peace from 1972 to 1983, the former Sudan was plagued with conflict after gaining its independence in 1956. Before South Sudan gained its independence in 2011, the former Sudan was Africa’s largest nation – ethnically diverse and richly endowed with natural resources, including oil. As a result of the almost continuous conflict, about 5.2 million people are displaced throughout the former Sudan. This includes 2.7 million in Darfur, 250,000 in the southern region of the former Sudan, and some 430,000 Sudanese refugees who fled to neighbouring states.
“When the average Canadian thinks about elections in Africa, the mental picture is one of dispute, corruption, violence and even coups d’état,” says Lieutenant(N) Peter Dibben about his experience while serving in Sudan. “The long-awaited referendum on independence in South Sudan was widely expected to be more of the same, but the actual event was pleasantly peaceful.”
The referendum in Sudan had an extremely high voter turn-out – 100 percent in some areas.
“Our responsibilities were monitoring and verification; assessing the general security situation with respect to tribal, political and militia violence; and showing the UN presence,” says Capt Matthew Maxwell, who worked as a UN Military Observer. “These tasks were particularly important during the referendum period because the security situation had to be calm and peaceful so people would feel safe enough to go out and vote.”
Since 2006, the Canadian government contributed more than $885 million toward humanitarian assistance, development and peace-building in the former Sudan, including the ongoing Op SATURN in Darfur. With the mandate of UNMISS expected to be renewed in future years, Canada will remain a leader in the effort to find a lasting and peaceful solution to the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan. Contributing to international peace and security is one of the core missions outlined in the Canada First Defence Strategy, and our ongoing effort in this region is yet another example of the Defence Team working toward this goal.
The independent Republic of South Sudan came into being July 9, 2011, after the people of South Sudan—98.3 percent of them—voted to separate from their northern neighbour. The UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) was established the same day to support peace consolidation and support the new government in providing security and justice while preventing, mitigating and resolving conflict.
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| Maj Jacques Dubé and his fellow UNMOs from Team Site Wau pose with village leaders and the village's largest cow, which has just been sacrificed to celebrate the successful conclusion of voting in the South Sudan referendum. |
In support of the new nation and the new UN mission, the CF formed Task Force Sudan, comprising 14 CF personnel who work with UNMISS. This Canadian contribution to UNMISS, under Operation SOPRANO, provides the UN with key staff officers at their force headquarters as well as military liaison officers spread throughout the Republic of South Sudan.
“Operation SOPRANO carries on the CF’s history of supporting peace and security in the region,” says Captain(N) Steve Virgin, Assistant Chief of Staff – International at Canadian Expeditionary Force Command HQ. “The Sudans are a priority mission. Our 14 CF personnel play an important role in the UN’s effort to consolidate peace and security in the Republic of South Sudan.”
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| The CF's Maj Ed Smith (left) and Lt(N) Peter Dibben, both UNMOs in Sudan, present the local Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army commander with a vehicle's worth of text books to help SPLA troops learn to read. |
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| The free and fair referendum created the world's newest country Southern Sudan It is within this context that the CF operated during 2011 on Op SAFARI. Under the mandate of the former UN Mission in Sudan and alongside allied nations, members of the Canadian contingent worked to observe and report on security matters that concerned Sudanese civilians, military personnel and government authorities. The CF played a pivotal role in the 2011 Independence Referendum, a six-year process originating from the former Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. |
“When the average Canadian thinks about elections in Africa, the mental picture is one of dispute, corruption, violence and even coups d’état,” says Lieutenant(N) Peter Dibben about his experience while serving in Sudan. “The long-awaited referendum on independence in South Sudan was widely expected to be more of the same, but the actual event was pleasantly peaceful.”
The referendum in Sudan had an extremely high voter turn-out – 100 percent in some areas.
“Our responsibilities were monitoring and verification; assessing the general security situation with respect to tribal, political and militia violence; and showing the UN presence,” says Capt Matthew Maxwell, who worked as a UN Military Observer. “These tasks were particularly important during the referendum period because the security situation had to be calm and peaceful so people would feel safe enough to go out and vote.”
Since 2006, the Canadian government contributed more than $885 million toward humanitarian assistance, development and peace-building in the former Sudan, including the ongoing Op SATURN in Darfur. With the mandate of UNMISS expected to be renewed in future years, Canada will remain a leader in the effort to find a lasting and peaceful solution to the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan. Contributing to international peace and security is one of the core missions outlined in the Canada First Defence Strategy, and our ongoing effort in this region is yet another example of the Defence Team working toward this goal.
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/tml/_images/2012/01/orig/4d.jpg
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