South Sudan’s armed opposition has called for the extension of UNMISS’ mandate through the three-year transitional period in order to protect civilians in and outside UN bases.
Seven members of the opposition, including John Juan Dong and Puot Khang, recently held a one day meeting in Addis Ababa on the future of the peacekeeping mission, according to SPLA-In Opposition spokesperson Dickson Gatluak.
The SPLM/A-In Opposition representatives met with with members of the UN’s Technical Review Team, which is evaluating UNMISS. UNMISS is mandated to protect civilians in South Sudan and in accordance with this mandate has allowed some 200,000 conflict-displaced people to shelter at its bases.
Gatluak said that in the meeting they discussed how UNMISS should help to repatriate these people to their homes, but he said his side is urging UNMISS to continue patrolling its bases as well as other civilian areas. He said UNMISS should monitor and patrol areas of military cantonment as well.
“SPLM/IO is calling on the UNMISS to help in term of monitoring, verification, as well as patrolling in areas where the forces are going to be kept under cantonments, and extension of its protection of civilians not only in the [protection of civilians areas in the bases] but even for those who are living far from its bases across the country to be covered,” Gatluak said in a press release.
He said the SPLA-IO further calls on UNMISS to participate fully in elections scheduled at the end of the three year period to ensure the vote is transparent and fair. He said they want UNMISS to also train police and military courts, and to build schools and health facilities.
Further, Gatluak said his side wants UNMISS to ensure all armed forces leave Juba including members of the national security services, excepting joint police units.
Related:
Security council to update UNMISS mandate (29 Aug.)