Spotlight: UN seeks ISS expertise for panel on South Sudan

ISS appointments to UN experts' panels show that our analysts are held in high regard and enable the ISS to shape global responses to African conflicts.

Published on 14 May 2015 in Impact

Institute for Security Studies (ISS) senior researcher Andrews Atta-Asamoah has been appointed by the United Nations (UN) Secretary General to the UN Panel of Experts on South Sudan. This follows previous appointments of ISS experts, including Paul-Simon Handy to the UN Panel of Experts on Central African Republic and David Zounmenou to the UN Panel of Experts on Côte d’Ivoire.

‘This provides a great opportunity for ISS insights on African peace and security issues to be taken directly to those who matter in the pursuit of international peace and security,’ says Atta-Asamoah. ‘It also shows that ISS research and analysis reach a global audience and play a significant role in the global search for peace.’

Atta-Asamoah joins the experts’ panel for a 13-month secondment from 1 June 2015. The panel is responsible for supporting the UN Security Council Committee established by UN resolution 2206 (2015), which monitors sanctions imposed by the Security Council in South Sudan. As one of only five experts selected to the panel, he will focus on the role of natural resources and finance issues in the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.

The panel will also collect and analyse information regarding the supply, sale and transfer of arms, especially through illicit trafficking networks, which continues to undermine political processes in South Sudan. Panel experts will present a final report to the Security Council by 1 February 2016.

The ISS works closely with governments and organisations across the globe to prevent conflict in Africa. Atta-Asamoah’s appointment shows ISS experts are held in high regard internationally, and enables the ISS to directly shape responses to conflict and crisis in Africa.

For more information, contact:

Stephanie Wolters, ISS: +27 72 433 4808, [email protected]