South Sudan orders UN troops out of Juba airport

Members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force (GSDF) arrive at the Juba airport in South Sudan on November 21, 2016. The South Sudan government has ordered the UN's Regional Protection Force (RPF) troops out of the Juba International Airport. AFP PHOTO | SAMIR BOL

What you need to know:

  • Information Minister Michael Makuei said RPF attempted to illegally occupy the Juba airport without any formal agreement
  • The 4,000 regional protection force was approved by the UN Security Council to secure Juba.
  • This followed violence that broke out in July 2016.

JUBA

The South Sudan government has ordered the UN's Regional Protection Force (RPF) troops out of the Juba International Airport.

Information Minister Michael Makuei confirmed to local media in Juba that RPF attempted to illegally occupy the Juba airport without any formal agreement with the administration.

He said the troops were armed with artilleries and tankers, pointing out that the government immediately acted and informed the UN peace keeping mission in Juba to order the RPF back to their base on Yei Road.

"We have asked their bosses to take them back to the designated camp on Yei Road and they have complied with the government orders," Mr Makuei is quoted saying by the local Daawn Daily.

The UN boss in Juba, Mr David Shearer, said recently that the RPF's purpose was not to control the Juba airport and key installations in the war-torn country, but to restore calm and protect civilians in the capital.

"There is absolutely no plans of any kind to take control of the South Sudan's Juba airport," Mr Shearer said.

The 4,000 regional protection force was approved by the UN Security Council to secure Juba after the July 2016 violence.