East Africa: Premier, UNSC Delegates Discuss Regional Protection Force Deployment

Photo: Xinhua/Li Muzi

The United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on Sudan and South Sudan at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn, who is also Chairperson of IGAD, yesterday met with members of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in Addis to discuss and exchange views on the situation of South Sudan, which comes after UNSC delegates were able to get the consent of South Sudan for the deployment of the Regional protection force Sunday.

A resolution was adopted last month which included the 'deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force recently mandated by UNSC into South Sudan'.

Following the talks, Ethiopia's Ambassador to South Sudan Fisseha Shawel told journalists that the two sides talked about the South Sudan situation including the regional protection force as well as various variables associated with the deployment of the force.

He quoted Prime Minister Hailemariam as saying, "the UNSC, AU, IGAD and Ethiopia will work together and closely with South Sudan authorities to bring peace and stability in the country until they hold national elections in 2018".

The Ambassador added that army chief of staffs of regional countries are working on the deployment of the force, and creating conducive environment in South Sudan to steer the country to a path of peace and stability.

Philip Taula, Deputy Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations on his part said that the Security Council is progressing the resolution that was recently adopted including the quest for the regional protection force, in making it to happen in a way all sides are comfortable with. "The main thing is overcoming the misunderstanding about the role and purpose of the force, and how its effect can be broadened," as he added.

Regarding Ethiopia's role, he said that Ethiopia has played critical roles as head of IGAD.

It was also learned that the Prime Minister and UNSC delegates also discussed Somalia, in relation to the national election the country will hold very soon. He said that both sides also talked on how the Somalia national force can stand on its own and protect the country. Read more here