UN delegation in S. Sudan to push for protection force deployment

The UN Security Council delegation, which arrived in South Sudan on Friday evening, will push for the deployment of 4,000 regional protection force in the world's youngest nation.

U.S. Ambassador to UN and head of the delegation, Samantha Power, said the 15-member delegation will also engage the government of South Sudan to implement a fragile peace pact signed in August 2015.

"We would like to see better understanding between the government of South Sudan and the UN. We would like to see progress made on the regional protection force and we would like to see very concrete commitments with regard to accountability," Power told journalists on arrival in Juba.

She said the delegation will also push for the establishment of a highbred court to end impunity for crimes committed during the country's nearly 2 years of conflict, which broke out in December 2013.

The delegation will hold talks with President Salva Kiir and other members of the transitional unity government, and visit displaced people in the towns of Wau and Malakal during the three-day visit.

The Council on Aug. 12 voted in favor of deployment of extra 4,000 troops, known as protection force drawn from regional African countries, and extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

The government of South Sudan is yet to decide on the proposed deployment of the regional force after refusing earlier, but later softens its stance.

Violence flared in South Sudan on July 8 after fighting broke out between troops loyal to President Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, leading to deaths of hundreds and displacement of tens of thousands people.

The fighting forced Machar to leave the capital Juba and he has ever since been replaced by Taban Deng Gai. Enditem