by Julius Gale
JUBA, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Wednesday demanded review of the mandate of the newly deployed Regional Protection Force (RPF) serving under the UN peacekeeping mission (UNMISS), saying it is not satisfied with their services.
Government Spokesman Michael Makuei said told a news conference that under the current setting, RPF offers little help to South Sudan as there is no further threat of violence in the capital Juba following last year's clashes between rival forces.
"If they (RPF) have come to assist the people and the government of South Sudan, then we will have to revisit their mandate so that they render better services to the people of South Sudan instead of patrolling, accompanying water tanks to the riverside and moving in the town with guns, which sends negative message to the people," Makuei said.
The 4,000-strong additional blue helmets were mandated by the Security Council last year to back up the existing 12,000 UN troops to protect civilians and key installations, including the airport, following renewed violence in July 2016.
But the RPF only started arriving in the East African country last month following protracted negotiations with the South Sudanese government.
Last week, fresh dispute broke out between UNMISS and the government over security clearance and mandate of the newly deployed blue helmets from Rwanda, leading to a temporary grounding of all UN planes. The row was later resolved following intervention of diplomatic missions.
Makuei said the government will decline to accept a new mandate for the RPF in December if the Security Council fails to review it.
"These forces were supposed to come at a time when Juba was not at peace, but Juba is now at peace. We will have to revisit the mandate of the RPF," Makuei said.
"By the end of the period in December, the government of South Sudan must be consulted before they talk of renewal. This idea of automatic renewal without the consent of the government is not acceptable and will not be accepted," he added.
South Sudan has been embroiled in more than three years of conflict that has have taken a devastating toll on the people.
Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, communities divided along ethnic lines and millions displaced since December 2013.
A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.
The UN estimates that at least 4 million people have been displaced internally and into neighboring countries, and another 7.5 million people across the country are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection.
