Gov’t says UNMISS mandate should include developmental projects

JUBA – South Sudan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Deng Dau Deng has said that the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) should include developmental projects that include agricultural development and capacity building.

Speaking following a meeting with the visiting United Nations Undersecretary for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix in Juba on Thursday,  Deng said he has spoken about the adjustment of the UNMISS mandate to include developmental projects.

“I raised this issue of the 20 percent reduction of the forces of the UN currently deployed in South Sudan. Instead of focusing on military aspect only, people can also look at development aspect,” Dau said, according to Eye Radio.

“The force [UNMISS] can be redirected to be able to work on infrastructure, work in areas of agriculture and work in other areas in capacity building,” the senior government official further added.