United Nations Security Council Resolution 1590, adopted unanimously on 24 March 2005, after recalling resolutions 1547 (2004), 1556 (2004), 1564 (2004), 1574 (2004), 1585 (2005) and 1588 (2005) on the situation in Sudan, the Council established the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) for an initial period of six months.[1]
The passage of the resolution created the United Nations' 17th active peacekeeping mission.[2] The vote on the resolution primarily concerning South Sudan was delayed by three weeks due to disagreements over the situation in nearby Darfur.[3]
The preamble of the resolution also expressed concern about the humanitarian situation and the safety of humanitarian aid workers. It was alarmed at the continuing violence in Darfur and noted that the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement had requested the presence of a peacekeeping mission. The Council considered the situation to be a threat to international peace and security.[4]
The Security Council decided to establish UNMIS for an initial period of six months, with 10,000 military and 715 police personnel.[5] It was instructed to co-operate with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and had the following mandate:
(a) support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement;
(d) contribute towards the protection of human rights and the protection of civilians.
The parties were urged to guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of UNMIS and humanitarian personnel, further emphasising that there could be no military solution to the conflict in Darfur. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan was asked to transfer responsibilities from the United Nations Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS) to UNMIS, and to keep the Council regularly informed on developments.
The resolution demanded strict adherence to the zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation. Furthermore, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, UNMIS was authorised to use force if necessary to protect personnel, civilians and facilities during the course of its mandate.[6] The Council also asked for an increase in the deployment of human rights monitors to the Darfur region.
^Black, David Ross; Williams, Paul (2010). The international politics of mass atrocities: the case of Darfur. Taylor & Francis. p. 180. ISBN978-0-415-55902-7.
^Koos, Carlos; Laurent, Dick (2010). Comparing the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) with the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur: Background, Mandate, Scope, Success & Failures. GRIN Verlag. p. 19. ISBN978-3-640-63610-5.