JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s president wants his vice president to return to the capital to try to salvage a peace agreement that was jeopardised by fighting earlier this month between forces loyal to the two long-time rivals.
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U.N. officials said that while the decision to send home two unarmed British policeman might send the wrong message to other countries contributing police to the U.N. mission it would certainly not put Britain’s U.N. standing into question.
The Security Council is considering a request from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to place an arms embargo on South Sudan and to ratchet up sanctions on individuals accused of hindering the peace process.
The Diocese of Northern Uganda has been praised by the country’s armed forces for its crisis response in support for the thousands of refugees streaming into the country from South Sudan.
The operation includes 1,200 police officers out of a 13,500-strong peacekeeping force.
Separately, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said UNMISS was looking into reports of sexual violence – including rape and gang rape – against civilians, including minors, by soldiers in uniform in several parts of Juba.
Again, the UN Chief told the press that he is very much grateful for hard-working peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers, UN staff, NGOs, civil society and media who are working under very hard and unsafe circumstances.
Sweden will serve as a member of the Security Council during the 2017-18 period.
He did not directly address the remarks about Britain’s permanent security council seat.
They have underscored the need for the worldwide community to call the leaders of South Sudan to account in implementing the promise of peace.
The civilians have fled the violence that erupted in the youngest country on July 8 between supporters of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and rebels backing his deputy, Riek Machar.
“We judged their temporary removal was necessary for the officers’ safety”.
Officials were perturbed that they were not given any advance warning about the officers’ departure and an internal memo has threatened to strip the United Kingdom of its right to block UN security resolutions.
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“It will deal a devastating blow” to the August 2015 peace accord which ended a near two-year civil war, and the government of national unity, it said.
