The UNMISS Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) David Shearer today met with the South Sudanese Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro, to discuss the way  forward.

Mr. Shearer was pleased to hear Minister Lomuro reiterate the South Sudanese government’s commitment to the deployment of the 4,000-troop-strong Regional Protection Force (RPF) mandated in the UN Security Council Resolution 2304 in September 2016.

“We look forward to working together with you constructively. The UN is here to assist the people to make their lives better”, Mr. Shearer said, adding that both parties have agreed to discuss any issues “frankly and clearly”.

After their meeting, Minister Lomuro, on his part, said that the government is indeed committed to receiving the Regional Protection Force.

“Our position is that of commitment, and we are waiting for the UN to do what it has to do to bring in the RPF. We are addressing issues of land (for the RPF), we are also going to have a workshop and even messages between us and UNMISS about the protection force, about the role of UNMISS, so that we have a cordial relationship”,