South Sudan will not cooperate with protection force: presidential spokesperson

August 13, 2016 (JUBA) – The Spokesperson of South Sudan President Salva Kiir angrily reacted on Friday to a resolution of the United Nations Security Council authorizing deployment of up to 4000 troops to protect civilians at risk of extreme violence and to help in the implementation of peace agreement.

Presidential Spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny, told the media late on Friday that the government of President Salva Kiir on whose behalf he spoke, will not cooperate with the United Nations approved force.

“It is very unfortunate and we are not going to ‘cooperate’ because we will not allow our country to be taken over by U.N. Any force that will be called Juba Protection Force will not be accepted,” said Ateny.

Ateny made the remarks after the government convened a cabinet meeting at which it was resolved to send a letter rejecting a proposal authorizing deployment of protection force from the region under the united nations mission in South Sudan.

The letter prepared by the minister of cabinet affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro and approved by president Kiir likened the deployment of 4,000 foreign troops to “invasion and interference in the internal affairs”.

(ST)