"Canada is committed to the UN objective of bringing a lasting peace to southern Sudan, which will help to establish long-term peace throughout the country," said Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs. "In the same way that Canada played an important role in supporting the peace process to end the southern civil war, we plan to assist in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement."

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed on January 9, 2005 by representatives of the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), ended more than 20 years of civil strife that engulfed the southern region of Sudan.

UNMIS has a mandate to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, facilitate the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons, provide de-mining assistance, and contribute to international efforts to protect and promote human rights in Sudan.

Under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, UNMIS is authorized in the areas where its forces are deployed to take whatever actions it considers necessary, within its capabilities, to protect U.N. personnel and ensure their security and freedom of movement, and-without infringing on responsibilities of the Sudanese government-to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.

Ex Cadet off to Sudan

Ex Cadet 10155 Brigadier-General Mitchell is an infantry officer who has served the majority of his career on Regimental duty with Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. With that unit he 

commanded three rifle platoons, a rifle company, combat service support company and, as Operations Officer, the Battalion HQ Company. Brigadier-General Mitchell subsequently commanded the battalion from 1989 to 1991 during which time his unit was deployed on two internal security operations, including the Oka crisis. While serving with 2 RCR, he completed two tours of duty with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.  

The remainder of his Regimental duty was with the Canadian Airborne Regiment where he served as Regimental Adjutant, Deputy Commanding Officer 3 Airborne Commando, Regimental Major and, during a third tour of UN duty in Cyprus, as the Regiment's Deputy Commander.

While serving outside the Regiment, Brigadier-General Mitchell commanded the Tactics School at the Combat Training Centre (CTC) Gagetown, later serving as Chief of Staff, and then Deputy Commander of CTC. Other staff positions he held include Senior Staff Officer Personnel Management at Army Headquarters, Chief of Staff, Land Force Central Area, Base Commander of Canadian Forces Base Petawawa and Commander Land Forces Atlantic Area. BGen Mitchell was posted to Denmark in July 2003 as Commander Shirbrig.

Brigadier-General Mitchell is a graduate of the Royal Military College, Queen's University, Canadian Forces Language School, Canadian Forces Staff School, Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College, Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, and National Defence College. He has attended courses on International Law of Armed Conflict at the Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy and Peacekeeping Mission Management at the Swedish National Defence College, Stockholm, Sweden.