South Sudan calls for dialogue over deployment of protection forces

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir said on Monday that his country is ready for dialogue with the United Nations and the regional countries on the deployment of 4,000 additional protection force authorized by the UN Security Council last Friday.

Speaking during the inauguration of the Transitional Parliament, Kiir said South Sudan has not reached a decision about the Security Council's resolution but said the deployment should not be imposed on the government.

He said more and better approach could be achieved through consultation and dialogue with stakeholders.

"South Sudan is not instinctively or automatically against regional bloc, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and UN involvement. We welcome assistance, we are attentive to advice. But assistance requires dialogue," Kiir told lawmakers.

"It (deployment of troops) should not turn into an imposition that becomes an intervention in which our sovereignty is compromised and our ability to govern effectively diminishes rather than increases," he added.

The Security Council on Friday authorized a 4,000-strong regional protection force within the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) "responsible for providing a secure environment in and around Juba, which in early July was the scene of the latest eruption of deadly violence in the young country, exacerbating an already desperate humanitarian situation."

The Security Council threatened an arms embargo on south Sudan if the country refuses the deployment of the protection.

But President Kiir said government is yet to make a decision on the Security Council resolution denying accusations that the government threatened to fight the UN troops.

"Already, there are people who are accusing the TOGNU (transitional Government of National Unity) of refusing and fighting the UN. I want to confirm that this is not an accurate appraisal of our position. The TOGNU has not met to deliberate on final decision taken by the UN Security Council," President Kiir said.

Violence flared in South Sudan last month after fighting broke out between troops loyal to President Kiir and former vice president Riek Machar leading to deaths of hundreds, sexual assaults on women and girls and displacement of over 100,000 people, casting uncertainty on a peace pact signed in August 2015.

The fighting forced Machar to leave the capital Juba, leading to his replacement by Taban Deng Gai, a move that caused further split among the former rebels known as SPLM/ A-In Opposition.

Kiir vowed to commission an inquiry into the cause of the July 7 violence and also form an independent body to investigate acts of human rights violations and looting committed during the fighting.

The transitional unity government on Monday officially inaugurated an expanded transitional parliament of 400 seats comprising of elected legislators and appointed members of parliament from the SPLM/ A-IO and other political parties.

Source : XINHUA