S. Sudan will not reverse expulsion of top UN official
June 8, 2015 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government vowed not to reverse its recent decision to expel Toby Lanzer, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in the world’s youngest nation.
“He [Lanzer] has entered in areas which are more political than humanitarian,” cabinet affairs minister, Martin Elia Lomoro told reporters after Friday’s meeting.
“We engaged him and work with him to bring to his attention that what you [Lanzer] are doing is not your mandate but it is political and it can cause differences and even escalation of the conflict more than you think you are doing,” he added.
According to Ki-moon, the expelled UN humanitarian coordinator who has been appointed on another mission in the Sahel region, played vital roles in raising awareness on the dire humanitarian situation South Sudanese have been exposed to by the conflict.
That awareness helped generate humanitarian assistance and adverted famine in 2014. This campaign, however, put him at logger heads with the South Sudanese government.
“We gave him warning that; please desist from interfering in internal affairs of the Republic of south Sudan. He did not listen and continued spreading false information about South Sudan,” said Lomoro.
The UN, United States and the European Union all condemned the South Sudanese government for expelling Lanzer and called for the expulsion decision to be reversed.
Last week, presidential press secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny said only Kiir could revoke the expulsion decision. However, cabinet’s lastest position rules out Lanzer’s possible return.
(ST)