South Sudan

About

Explosive ordnance (EO) contamination remains a critical constraint on civilian safety, humanitarian access, and peacekeeping operations in South Sudan. Landmines, unexploded ordnance, and abandoned ammunition continue to endanger communities, restrict freedom of movement, and undermine recovery efforts. Ongoing population returns, climate-related flooding, renewed insecurity in parts of the country, and access constraints linked to the peace process have further increased exposure to EO hazards, particularly for displaced populations, returnees, and children.

UNMAS operates in South Sudan as an integrated section of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in support of Security Council Resolution 2779 (2025). UNMAS directly enables the Mission’s core mandate priorities, including Protection of Civilians, the creation of conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and support to the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement and the broader peace process, while contributing to the monitoring and mitigation of risks associated with violations of international humanitarian law.

Through UNMISS-mandated mine action capacity, UNMAS delivers the majority of operational mine action activities across the country, ensuring that civilians, humanitarian actors, and peacekeepers can operate safely in EO-contaminated environments.

At full operational capacity, UNMAS deploys up to 8 specialised mine action teams nationwide to address EO hazards through survey and clearance, rapid emergency response, road and airstrip assessments, and explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) for communities, humanitarian personnel, and UN staff. UNMAS also supports the safe disposal of unserviceable ammunition belonging to UNMISS contingents and provides technical and institutional assistance to the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA).

Through these interventions, UNMAS acts as a force enabler, protecting lives, restoring access, strengthening national ownership of mine action, and contributing directly to stability and peace in South Sudan.

Impact

UNMAS mine action activities translate directly into safer communities, improved freedom of movement, and expanded humanitarian reach across South Sudan.

Since its inception, UNMAS South Sudan has:

• Destroyed more than 7.295 million items of small arms ammunition and 1.235 million explosive devices, including 41,324 landmines, 87,387 cluster munitions, and 1.106 million items of unexploded ordnance. These efforts have made 2,366 water points, 3,359 schools, and 455 health facilities safe for civilian use and humanitarian access.
• Cleared and assessed 4,910 kilometres of roads, enabling safe movement for UN peacekeepers, humanitarian partners, and commercial transport, improving access to markets, essential services, and remote communities.
• Delivered Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) to 7.563 million people, including internally displaced persons, refugees, returnees, and host communities, significantly reducing accidents by promoting safe behaviour, avoidance, and reporting of EO hazards.

Together, these outcomes support the Protection of Civilians, enabling humanitarian operations, and national recovery by restoring access, reducing risk, and enabling safe movement of peacekeeping personnel and civilian population.

Activities

UNMAS South Sudan supports protection, humanitarian action, peacekeeping, and national ownership of mine action through four mutually reinforcing pillars.

Protection of Civilians

EO hazards continue to kill and injure civilians and restrict access to livelihoods and essential services. UNMAS reduces these risks by removing explosive threats and promoting safe behaviour in affected communities.

UNMAS South Sudan:

• Conducts survey and clearance of landmines, unexploded ordnance, and other EO hazards in communities, agricultural land, schools, water points, health facilities, and public infrastructure.
• Delivers EORE to women, men, girls, and boys; including persons with disabilities, displaced populations, refugees, and returnees, empowering communities to recognize EO risks and adopt safe practices through avoidance and reporting.
• Prioritizes clearance of areas critical to livelihoods and basic services, enabling safe access to farmland, markets, education, healthcare, and water.

These efforts allow children to walk to school safely, enable women and men to access livelihoods, and support families in rebuilding their lives without fear.

Creating Conditions Conducive to Humanitarian Assistance

UNMAS is a key enabler of humanitarian operations in South Sudan, ensuring safe access for United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, and national partners.

UNMAS South Sudan:

• Clears and assesses roads, airstrips, landing sites, and humanitarian hubs to enable the safe movement of personnel and supplies.
• Deploys rapid-response mine action teams during emergencies, including conflict-related displacement and flooding, to support the establishment and expansion of reception sites and camps.
• Conducts clearance to facilitate the construction of shelters, latrines, health facilities, and water infrastructure for displaced populations.

These activities have enabled the safe establishment and expansion of displacement and return sites in locations including Malakal, Wau, Aweil, and Bentiu, supporting timely delivery of life-saving assistance.

Supporting Peacekeeping and the Peace Process

UNMAS enables UNMISS to operate effectively in EO-contaminated environments, directly supporting mandate implementation.

UNMAS South Sudan:

• Provides route clearance, road assessments, and helicopter landing site verification to support patrols, civilian protection, mediation, leadership engagement, and monitoring activities.
• Delivers EORE to UNMISS military, police, and civilian personnel to mitigate operational risks.
• Supports Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) through technical advice and the disposal of unserviceable ammunition.
• Clears land for Quick Impact Projects that support peace dividends through the rehabilitation of schools, clinics, and community infrastructure.

These interventions allow UNMISS to safely access hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas, strengthening confidence-building and stabilization efforts.

Advocacy and Support to Government

UNMAS strengthens national ownership of mine action and supports South Sudan in meeting its international obligations.

UNMAS South Sudan:

• Provides technical, operational, and strategic support to the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA).
• Manages the national mine action information system and supports compliance with the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
• Supports the development of national legislation, standards, and the Mine Action Strategy (2024–2028).
• Promotes gender equality, diversity, and safeguarding through the Gender Equality and Diversity Policy, the Women in Mine Action Network, and strengthened Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) systems.

• Through these efforts, UNMAS supports South Sudan’s progress toward becoming mine-free by June 2030, while helping build a sustainable, nationally led mine action sector.

Funding

UNMAS thanks its partners for their continued support to mine action in South Sudan.

UNMAS South Sudan is primarily funded through assessed contributions to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation via the United Nations Department of Peace Operations, supporting mine action activities delivered under the UNMISS mandate.

Additional extrabudgetary support is provided by the Government of Japan through the Japan Supplementary Budget and by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). These contributions focus on strengthening the National Mine Action Authority, including coordination, institutional capacity, national standards, and compliance with international treaties.

Together, these funding streams enable UNMAS to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access, strengthen national ownership of mine action, and support peace and stability across South Sudan.