The first elements of the Regional Protection Force (RPF) of the United Nations
Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have started to arrive in the country.
The RPF Headquarters has already been established in Juba under the leadership
of Brigadier General Jean Mupenzi from Rwanda. In addition, an advance party of
a Construction Engineering Company from Bangladesh arrived on 20 April
bringing essential equipment to begin the preparation of accommodation and
working areas for the RPF in Juba. Regional troops from Rwanda will follow in
June and July.
Some other specialist capacities which are unavailable in the region will be
provided by troop contributing countries from other UN Member States including
Nepal and Pakistan.
In line with UN Security Council Resolution 2304 (2016) and in cooperation with
the Transitional Government of National Unity, the 4,000 peacekeepers of the
RPF, commanded by Brigadier General Mupenzi, will be based in Juba to bolster
the Mission’s capacity to advance the safety and security of civilians.
The Transitional Government of National Unity confirmed its unconditional
consent to the deployment of the force in a communiqué to the UN Security
Council on 30 November 2016.
The RPF will provide coordinated protection to key facilities in Juba. It will also
provide protection to the main routes into and out of the city. It will strengthen
the security of UN protection of civilians’ sites and other UN premises.
The deployment of the RPF, to be staged over coming months, will free existing
UNMISS peacekeepers to extend their presence to conflict-affected areas beyond
Juba.