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| Abbreviation | UNSMIS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 21 April 2012 |
Head | Robert Mood until date Babacar Gaye |
Parent organization | United Nations Security Council |
TheUnited Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) was aUnited Nationspeacekeeping mission inSyria, set up in 2012 as a result ofUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 2043 in response to theSyrian Civil War.[1] It was commanded byNorwegianMajor GeneralRobert Mood[2] until 20 July 2012 followed byLieutenant GeneralBabacar Gaye fromSenegal. Although observers remain in the country, Mood suspended their mission on June 16, 2012, citing "escalating violence".[3] Observers will conduct no further patrols and stay in their current positions until the suspension is lifted. On 20 July 2012, the Security Council extended UNSMIS for a final period of 30 days. According to resolution 2059, the Council would only consider more extensionsin the event that the Secretary-General reports and the Security Council confirms the cessation of the use of heavy weapons and a reduction in the level of violence sufficient by all sides to allow UNSMIS to implement its mandate.[4]
Resolution 2043 authorizes up to 304 unarmed military observers, plus an appropriate civilian component. As of 30 June 2012, UNSMIS consisted of 280 military observers, 81 international civilian staff and 41 local civilian staff. Military personnel came fromArmenia,Bangladesh,Benin,Brazil,Burkina Faso,Burundi,Cambodia,Chad,China,Croatia,Czech Republic,Denmark,Ecuador,Egypt,Fiji,Finland,France,Ghana,Indonesia,Ireland,Italy,Jordan,Kenya,Kyrgyzstan,Mauritania,Morocco,Nepal,Netherlands,New Zealand,Niger,Nigeria,North Korea,Norway,Paraguay,Philippines,Romania,Russia,Senegal,Slovenia,Sweden,Switzerland,Togo,Vietnam,Yemen andZimbabwe.[5]
On 25 July 2012,Under-Secretary-General forPeacekeeping OperationsHervé Ladsous announced that about half of the military observers have been sent back to their countries.[6]
On August 16, France's UN AmbassadorGerard Araud, the currentSecurity Council president, said the conditions to extend the mission beyond August 20, among which a significant reduction of violence, were not met and the mission would end. Russia organised new UN meetings in New York on Friday, August 17, and called on all sides to end the violence.[7]
On 20 July, the Security Council extended UNSMIS for a final period of 30 days. According to resolution S/RES/2059, the Council would only consider further extensions to the missionin the event that the Secretary-General reports and the Security Council confirms the cessation of the use of heavy weapons and a reduction in the level of violence sufficient by all sides to allow the UNSMIS monitors to implement their mandate. The two conditions set by the Council were not met. This was reported in a Secretary-General's letter to the Security Council on 10 August, in which he also set forth his observations on the future work of the United Nations in Syria.
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