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KIGALI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda is set to deploy a new contingent of 160 police officers to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan early next month.
Equipment for the sixth Formed Police Unit (FPU) to serve under the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has already reached Juba, where the officers will be stationed, according to police statement released on Friday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) William Kayitare, the Commissioner for Peace Support Operations in Police, said the advance party will depart on Friday.
Rwanda already has Formed Police Unit contingents deployed in Central African Republic (CAR) and Haiti, each consisting of 140 officers.
"The mandate of the Formed Police Unit contingent will be protecting civilians from eminent threats, public order management, protection of UN key installations and personnel, and humanitarian assistance," Kayitare said.
Once the contingent is deployed, it will bring the number of Rwandan police peacekeepers in all missions to about 1,200, according to Rwandan police.
Rwanda currently maintains 1,650 troops as part of UNMISS.
Conflicts, occasioned by food shortage, have sent thousands of South Sudanese fleeing the country.
The UN High Commission for Refugees on Thursday appealed to the international community for urgent and massive support for the thousands of South Sudan refugees who continue to arrive in Uganda.
The UN Security Council on Thursday also expressed deep alarm at the situation in South Sudan, reiterating that there is no military solution to the conflict.
It renewed its condemnation of continued fighting across the country, and called upon all parties to immediately adhere to the permanent ceasefire. Enditem
