The 4,000 strong regional protection force was mandated by the U.N. Security Council in August, but the government has opposed the force, saying it violates their sovereignty. The African Union said the force should be done "in total coordination" with the transitional government of national unity. 

It also alluded to the Egyptian government's participation in the regional protection force, who is a crucial ally of the government. Senior Security Council diplomats have told Radio Tamazuj that the force has had trouble gaining enough troop contributing countries. Egypt sits on both the U.N. Security Council and African Union Peace and Security Council, and has longstanding interests in the region.