South Sudan softens rejection of regional protection force

Commending East Africa’s Inter Governmental Authority for Development (Igad) for its continued leadership, the AU called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to extend its UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) with a revised mandate, including the deployment of a Regional Protection Force.

The Juba-based force was also authorized to take “proactive” measures to protect civilians and “promptly and effectively engage any actor that is credibly found to be preparing attacks or engages in attacks”.

The resolution does not impose an arms embargo as many, including more than a dozen USA lawmakers, have demanded but instead threatens a possible arms embargo if South Sudan does not cooperate.

Mr. Machar and the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir came to a tepid peace agreement following years of civil war.

The resolution brings the total number of peacekeepers in the country to 17,000.

Local refugees from South Sudan are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to offer the same concern and support for displaced Sudanese people as the country has for Syria.

Several council members reportedly wanted an immediate arms embargo in the country as Friday’s resolution said it would consider enforcing it if Kiir’s government blocks the deployment of protection forces or the work of UNMiss.

But it is not clear how the mission will be able to go ahead without South Sudan’s co-operation.

Machar withdrew his troops to outside of Juba after a ceasefire ended street battles in the capital in July and called for the foreign troop deployment to act as a buffer between the rival forces.

United Nations peacekeepers in South Sudan have a robust new mandate and thousands of additional troops despite government opposition to the move, raising the possibility of clashes between blue helmets and the country’s armed forces.

South Sudan government officials have been vague about how they will respond if the new protection force enters uninvited.

South Sudan’s government maintains that the force will undermine its sovereignty and should not be placed under United Nations command.

The U.S. -drafted motion said an arms embargo would be considered if the government obstructs the deployment or the work of the United Nations mission.

While the scope of the regional intervention force to be deployed is not stated, it is expected to help implement a peace deal signed in August 2015 by Kiir and Machar.

Riek Machar, the rebel leader and former first vice president, fled during the fighting and said he would return only when regional peacekeepers secured the capital.