Ethiopia to increase number of troops in South Sudan

Ethiopian authorities have concluded to increase the number of their troops in South Sudan.

This announcement came on Friday by the Ethiopian government spokesman, Redwan Hussein.

Hussein says the move aims at restoring calm and security in country where renewed armed conflict and fighting broke out in recent days.

At the same time the African Union is considering the establishment of a regional peace keeping brigade in South Sudan.

Ethiopia which chairs IGAD will spearhead the process of mobilizing the United Nations Security Council on the South Sudan conflict.

Contrary to Ethiopia’s intentions, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir says he no longer wants any more foreign military intervention in the current political crisis rocking his country.

Kiir, who spoke in Juba after a meeting with an international mediation body, said the ceasefire currently being enjoyed will hold, even as he pursued convincing his Vice-President Riek Machar to return to the capital.

The president said the UNMISS in South Sudan has many foreign troops, so it will not accept even a single soldier, stressing that the foreign troops in the country were already beyond the required number.

Currently there is a 12,000-strong UNMISS force in Africa’s youngest country. Read more here