South Sudan Rejects Deployment of Regional Protection Force amidst Worsening Security Situation
January 2017
On January 11th, 2017, in an unexpected twist, the South Sudanese government announced it would no longer accept the deployment of a 4,000-member Regional Protection Force (RPF), as provided for in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2304, on the grounds that the security situation in the country had “improved.” The RPF deployment, previously approved by the Government of South Sudan, was to provide a secure environment in and around Juba in light of the July 2016 episode of violence. Hundreds of civilians and soldiers were killed during that time. The January 2017 joint report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) revealed that “while some civilians died because they were caught in the crossfire, others appeared to have been deliberately targeted by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Sudan People’s Liberation Movement– in Opposition (SPLM-IO), their affiliated armed forces and other armed men”.
Furthermore, UNMISS documented 217 rape cases including gang rape committed by SPLA, SPLM-IO and other armed groups during and after the fighting in July 2016. Victims’ testimonies and witnesses’ accounts indicate that most of the sexual violence cases were committed by SPLA soldiers, police officers and members of the National Security Services.
The RPF was authorized under UNSCR 2304 to use all necessary means, including undertaking robust action where necessary and active patrolling, to accomplish its mandate including to “promptly and effectively engage any actor that is credibly found to be preparing attacks against civilians, humanitarian actors, UN protection of civilian sites, UN personnel and premises.”
Rejection of the arms embargo resolution
The news regarding the rejection of the RPF by the Government of South Sudan was preceded by the Security Council’s rejection of a resolution aimed at imposing an arms embargo and targeted sanctions on government and opposition figures in South Sudan, on December 23rd, 2016. This rejection occurred, despite calls and warnings made by former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UN officials, civil society and humanitarian actors, of a risk of mass atrocities. The draft resolution garnered only seven votes in favor, out of the total 15 members. Amongst the abstainers were Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Venezuela and all three African council members; Angola, Egypt and Senegal. Most Member States justified their abstention vote by the fact that signs of progress were being shown by the South Sudanese government; in particular in light of its, at the time, unconditional acceptance of the deployment of the regional protection force. However, the government’s announcement regarding its opposition to the deployment, radically shifts any sign of progress.
