SPLM-IO leaders ask for UN protection ahead of unity govt

South Sudan’s main opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), is demanding the deployment of UN-mandated forces, before the formation of a transitional government of national unity due next month.

Speaking in Juba, the country’s capital, on Friday, Angelina Teny the head of the SPLM-IO Defence committee said the party will not participate in the transitional government scheduled for February 22 unless there is a compromise to have a contingent of protection forces deployed.

The party led by former First Vice President Riek Machar is demanding for what it calls assurances on safety, to have 4,000 troops sent “sensitive areas” of the country, as a shield against reversion to violence.

“The SPLM-IO has said we will form the government on February 22 and we did put forward the proposal to enable the formation of that government,” Angelina Teny told reporters in Juba

“On the critical issues of security, we came up with a compromise. We need to sit down and look at the deployment of troops in some areas until such a time that we can deliver the unified forces for the delivery of the security services.

Source: Daily Nation