South Sudan’s government said that the UN Security Council resolution to send the Regional Protection Force (RPF) to boost the existing UN peacekeepers force has expired.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting on Friday, Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information, said that a new resolution is needed for additional UN troops in South Sudan.

“The period of the regional protection force ended on the 15th December according to the resolution number 2304, it was supposed to end on the 15th of December, when the RPF didn’t come, for the RPF to come, we need a new resolution from the Security Council,” said Makuei.

Makuei pointed out that the government doesn’t reject the deployment of the Regional Protection Force in Juba.

In August 2016, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of a 4000-strong protection force in South Sudan's capital as part of a UN peacekeeping mission.

File photo: