South Sudan’s 750 peacekeepers on standby as DRC mission ends

(radiotamazuj.org)

South Sudan has placed its contingent of 750 forces, part of the East African Regional Force deployed to restore peace in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in December 2022 and January 2023, on standby.

The battalion returned from its mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo in early December 2023, as the host country did not renew the mandate of the East African Regional Forces for all contributing nations.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Major General Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF Military Spokesperson, explained that the forces are now stationed at their base in a peacekeeping mission on standby. They will remain ready to respond to any emerging threats to peace in the East African region.

He emphasized, “They have returned to their base and will stay there as a peacekeeping unit on standby. If any new threats arise, they can be dispatched promptly to restore peace in the East African region.”

He added, “The mission was abruptly halted by the host country because they did not renew the mandate of the East African regional force, affecting all contributing nations, not just our force alone.”

“We have effectively become members of the East African regional force, and each country is required to maintain a standby force. This ensures that if there is a new security threat to any member country, the force can be assembled promptly to respond,” further explained Maj. Gen. Lul.

On December 28, 2022, and in January 2023, President Salva Kiir officially deployed a total of 750 troops to join an East African regional force aimed at ending decades of bloodshed in the country. However, earlier this month, their mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo was cut short when the host country failed to renew the mandate of the East African Regional Force.

The South Sudanese troops joined contingents from Kenya, Burundi, and Uganda, starting from December 28, in a ceremony attended by President Kiir. This deployment was viewed as a test of the East African Community’s capacity to respond to violence in the region and stabilize the country. The South Sudanese troops were stationed in Goma City in Eastern DRC, where Congolese troops were engaged in combat against the M23 rebel group.

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