German Police Officer serves as Police Commissioner in the UNMISS Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan

The new UNMISS Police Commissioner Meinolf Schlotmann is the first German Police Officer deployed at this level in a UN Mission since 2013. This new high-ranking position underlines Germany’s commitment – demonstrated since the beginning of UNMISS in 2011 – to supporting sustainable peace for all in South Sudan.

Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has suffered from almost uninterrupted unrest. Despite a peace agreement reached in 2018, recent hostilities in several parts of South Sudan threaten the hopes for peace and development in the country.

The international community is striving to strengthen the peace process and help bring stability to the country in the long term. The UNMISS peace mission is key to this. Its mandate comprises four areas:

• protecting the civilian population
• safeguarding humanitarian assistance
• supporting the peace process
• promoting human rights

Currently, there are more than 1.500 police personnel deployed in UNMISS.

Germany is actively involved in the UNMISS peacekeeping mission at all levels: civilian, military and police. The Bundeswehr has sent individual staff to UN posts and headquarters and has seconded experts who significantly contribute to providing the Mission with comprehensive situational awareness. Germany has participated in the UNMISS peacekeeping mission ever since it was established in 2011 in both civil and military capacity.