Newsletter No. 14
June 15, 2005

 

JAPAN TO PARTICIPATE IN UN MISSION IN SUDAN

The reports are very few and short, but it seems that there has been another development in regard to Japan-Sudan relations. The Cabinet has informally decided to provide mine detectors, SUVs, tents, and other supplies worth about US$2 million to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). Additionally, a single MOFA official will be dispatched to work in the UNMIS headquarters in southern Sudan. The official announcement regarding these matters is expected next month. The purpose of UNMIS is to supervise the peace agreement between the Sudanese central government and southern rebels. It was officially established by Security Council Resolution 1590 of March 24th of this year. The plan has been to send as many as 10,000 peacekeepers to the southern Sudan, and the UN has requested that Japan provide some of them from among the GSDF. However, Japan decided in the first week of April not to send any soldiers for the time being.

For general information on UNMIS, see their new website:

http://www.unmis.org