“Without the deployment of an effective third force, the antagonism among the various warring factions in South Sudan would continue, and none of these players are going to play by the rules”, Heitman told ANA.
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The government clarified its position Sunday on a UN resolution on sending troops after a meeting between a UN Security Council delegation and President Salva Kiir.
She also stressed that the UN Security Council needs to see progress on deployment of a regional protection force, lifting hurdles to humanitarian actors such as the UN mission, and progress in political consensus, which is the foundation of stability in South Sudan. Ateny described it as a diplomatic victory for the government.
The South Sudanese government has agreed to the deployment of a United Nations protection force made up of troops from the East African region.
JUBA South Sudan (Xinhua) – The UN refugee agency said on Friday that it has officially opened a new camp in South Sudan to provide better protection and services to refugees relocating from Yida settlement and new arrivals from the war-torn Nuba Mountains. The worldwide force has come under a lot of criticism because it was unable to protect civilians during the fierce fighting that broke out in Juba in July.
Lomoro said the “modalities” of deploying the new force were being discussed but he did not state that his government had dropped its opposition.
China and Russian Federation abstained from a Security Council vote that was held on the 12th of August on the resolution that authorised deploying a protection force consisting of 4,000 troops.
The UN Security Council also condemned the replacement of Machar after the 8 July clashes, saying the action was “inconsistent” with the peace agreement signed by Kiir and Machar in August previous year, which ended 21 months of civil war.
Machar has since fled the country.
Kiir had opposed the deployment of additional troops as breaching national sovereignty.
Speaking to AFP later, Atanasyo said the regional force was badly needed as members of the president’s Dinka tribe were raping and killing people if they went into Wau. Thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced by the conflict.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but slid into civil war in 2013 after Kiir sacked Machar as his vice president.
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The latest round of violence began in July with clashes among the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, loyal to President Salva Kiir, and those loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar, who contends Kiir’s appointment of a replacement vice president in July is illegal.
