Nearly 10,500 United Nations military personnel are currently in South Sudan, out of an approved total of 12,500, according to the new head of the UN Mission in South Sudan Margarethe Loej.
The remaining troops, which include 700 peacekeepers from China – the first time that country has ever contributed a battalion to a peacekeeping mission – are still expected. But Loej cautioned that “it takes some time” to transport the necessary vehicles and other equipment.
The troops that have arrived so far are from Ghana, Rwanda and Ethiopia.
The UN Security Council upped the approved number of UNMISS peacekeepers by 5,500 in late December, shortly after fighting broke out. The previous mandate was 7,000 troops.
Loej said the additional troops are needed to provide protection to people living both in and outside the UN bases.
UNMISS’ force commander is “very keen to have his troops move around, especially in areas like Upper Nile and Unity states, wherever they can. He even wants them to move out of some of the UN camps to be visible in the communities and thereby give a sense hopefully of security,” she said.
The Security Council also approved a surge in UN police from 900 to 1,323. However, the number is still around 900. This includes 363 specially trained members of the formed police units, who are responsible for curbing violence within the displacement camps at the UN bases.
Loej did not provide an exact timeline on when the additional forces would arrive, but said, “we hope to have them all on the ground sooner rather than later.”
File photo: UNMISS troops during a visit by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon