The United Nations Security Council has authorised the deployment of a 4000-strong protection force in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, as part of the UN peacekeeping mission and threatened an arms embargo if the government does not cooperate.
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After initially agreeing to the force during a summit of the East African bloc IGAD, South Sudan’s government on Wednesday said it now had reservations.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has been criticized for failing to protect civilians when UN sites came under attack last month.
Troops from Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda will make up most of the new force.
An outbreak of deadly fighting in the capital, Juba, last month raised fears of a renewed civil war and saw attacks on civilians, aid workers and United Nations staffers.
Ambassador Phee comments come in the wake of a campaign by the government officials aiming at rallying local support against the deployment of foreign force supported by the Washington at the level of UN Security Council.
Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk.
The proposed resolution threatens to impose an arms embargo if the government blocks deployment of the regional force.
“The situation in Juba is normal it is only those who send in this fictitious reports with the aim of interfering in the affairs of South Sudan that are rendering these reports …”
South Sudan, founded in 2011, has sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest oil reserves, yet is pumping as little as 120,000 barrels per day because of the conflict.
The vote was 11 in favor with Russia, China, Venezuela and Egypt abstaining.
The diplomats did not agree to an arms embargo on South Sudan, and instead chose to use the issue as a tool of coercion to force the government to agree to the force. The mandate of the force would prioritize the protection of civilians and act to bolster the tenuous peace process in the country.
US deputy ambassador David Pressman he was aware of South Sudan’s reservations regarding the regional force.
“Until the leaders of South Sudan are willing to put what is good for their people before themselves, putting peace ahead of personal ambition and power. the people of South Sudan will continue to suffer from the bloodshed and instability their leaders reap”, U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador David Pressman said.
Correspondents say this new African force appears to meet these demands but Mr Kiir removed Mr Machar as vice-president a few weeks ago and his government opposes the deployment of the force.
The influx was sparked by renewed fighting between the government forces of President Salva Kiir and those loyal to ex-rebel chief Riek Machar.
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The first time was in 2013 when civil war erupted and she fled to Yei in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria region. Hundreds have been killed and thousands have been displaced in the most recent fighting, and in many areas communities and internally displaced people face famine-like conditions.
