U.N. peacekeepers to focus on protecting South Sudan civilians
Tue May 27, 2014 7:20pm GMT
By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS May 27 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday
authorized peacekeepers in South Sudan to focus on protecting civilians
instead of state-building activities, backing the use of force by U.N.
troops amid worsening violence in the world's newest nation.
The U.S.-drafted resolution, unanimously adopted by the 15-member council,
"emphasizes that protection of civilians ... must be given priority in
decisions about the use of available capacity and resources within the
mission."
Fighting erupted in South Sudan in December after months of tensions sparked
by President Salva Kiir's decision to sack longtime rival Riek Machar from
the deputy president's position. Deep ethnic divisions also have fueled the
violence, pitting Kiir's Dinka people against the Nuer of Machar.
The council authorized U.N. troops to "use all necessary means" - code for
robust military force - to protect civilians, monitor and investigate human
rights abuses, assist the delivery of humanitarian aid and support a
cessation of hostilities deal.
The two sides fighting in the oil-producing country, which declared
independence from Sudan in 2011, have twice agreed to a ceasefire - in
January and then again earlier this month.
A report this month by the U.N. peacekeeping mission, known as UNMISS,
accused government and rebel forces in South Sudan of committing crimes
against humanity, including murder, rape and other sexual violence, during
the fighting that has left thousands of people dead.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, earlier this month
urged the Security Council to "authorize targeted sanctions against those
who continue to undermine South Sudan's stability."
STARVATION LOOMS
The council almost doubled the number of peacekeepers in late December to
12,500 troops and 1,323 police, allowing the United Nations to bring in
reinforcements from other missions. But only about half of the troop surge
has been deployed.
The council extended that temporary increase on Tuesday for six months and
authorized the deployment of new troop contingents instead of
reinforcements. A U.N. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it
was hoped all 12,500 troops could be on the ground by August.
The council also expressed "deep concern at persistent restrictions placed
upon the movement and operations of UNMISS, strongly condemning attacks by
government and opposition forces and other groups on United Nations
personnel and facilities."
The resolution effectively endorses action being taken by the U.N. mission
in South Sudan, where peacekeepers are protecting some 80,000 civilians at
U.N. bases.
"In response to the crisis, the mission has shifted its emphasis from state
building and state support activities to focus on protection of civilians,
human rights, humanitarian access and support to the political process,"
U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said.
More than one million people have fled their homes in South Sudan and the
United Nations has warned that four million people could be on the brink of
starvation by the end of the year because violence had disrupted the crop
planting season. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Paul Simao)