South Sudan is reiterating objections to neighboring countries participating in a 4,000 strong regional protection force, a spokesperson for President Salva Kiir told Radio Tamazuj.
Ateny Wek Ateny said only the government can decide which countries can participate in the protection force, which was mandated by the U.N. Security Council.
“In his recent visit to the U.S. the First Vice President discussed this with the representatives of some countries in the UN including the ambassador to the US in the United Nations” said Ateny.
After fighting in the capital, the U.N. Security Council mandated 4,000 peacekeepers enter South Sudan with a bolstered mandate to protect civilians. But the government has imposed sharp limits on the force.
Ateny denied the accusation by the UN that the government is obstructing the deployment of the peacekeeping force, which the U.N. has suggested.