#NEWS JUBA: #UN Goes Into Damage Control, Backtracks on Role of Chinese Troops in #SouthSudan And Says Theyre Yet to be Deployed. The UN seems to be backtracking amid fierce criticism of its vague and sweeping dual mandate in South Sudan. The UN has denied that Chinese troops have already been deployed in South Sudan although an official told Reuters News Agency on Wednesday that 700 Chinese troops were being airlifted to Unity State. And that the task would be completed in few days. However, Joe Contreras, the acting spokesman for the U.N. mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has denied and demised the reports. He said the Chinese troops had not yet been deployed and that no date had been finalised, nor the deployment area. Contreras also denied peacekeepers were protecting industry infrastructure in oil-rich South Sudan. China is the biggest investor in the countrys oil industry. Nowhere in the current mandate and mission does it say that peacekeepers will be asked to defend oil industry installations. When circumstances arise ... our peacekeepers will be called upon to protect civilian oil industry workers but not the refinery or pipeline or storage tanks, Contreras said. NC/ToJ
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:39:22 +0000
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