Contribution in Kind to the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS)

TOKYO, Japan, February 10, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- In the Republic of South Sudan, the local security situation has rapidly deteriorated since the middle of last December as a result of armed attacks by anti-government forces. Amidst such situation, the Government of Japan received a request from the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United Nations to provide ammunition, which was in short supply for the ROK unit stationed in Bor, Jonglei State, in preparation for the use of arms to protect both the ROK personnel, the displaced people and others who had gathered within the encampment.

　The type of ammunition in short supply was the same type possessed by Japan's Self-Defense Force (JSDF) unit. Given that among all the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) units currently deployed in South Sudan only the JSDF unit possessed stockpiles of the same type of ammunition, Japan determined that if it did not provide ammunitions the ROK unit would face the difficulties in protecting the lives of the ROK unit personnel and displaced people. For this reason, the Government of Japan decided to provide the required 10,000 rounds of ammunition to the United Nations based on the requests from the ROK Government and the United Nations.

　This contribution in kind was implemented in view of an urgent situation that required prompt action in order to protect the lives of both the ROK personnel and the displaced people. Given the urgent necessity and the highly humanitarian nature of the situation, the Chief Cabinet Secretary issued a statement announcing that the Three Principles on Arms Exports do not apply to this case and the provision of ammunition was implemented under the Contribution in Kind framework set forth in Article 25 of the Act on Cooperation for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Other Operations.

　The 10,000 rounds of ammunition were returned to the JSDF unit through UNMISS on January 16, 2014 after the ammunition for the ROK units was restocked by the ROK.

[Reference Material 1] Contribution in Kind in relation to UNMISS (transition by time) (PDF)

[Reference Material 2] Act on Cooperation for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Other Operations (excerpt) (PDF)

[Reference Material 3] Provided Goods(5.56mm ammunition)）and Weapons in Use (PDF)