The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says the government of South Sudan needs to translate into a real action its pledges to allow the deployment of Regional Protection Force in the country.

Last month, the government said it would cooperate with the resolution to deploy the 4000-strong regional force after the visit by a U.N Security Council led by US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power.

But later on said it was studying countries that it sees as neutral to contribute the soldiers.

In a letter addressed to the Security Council on Monday, Ban Ki-Moon says despite acceptance by Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda to provide the protection force, the government has not yet given its approval.

The UN chief says the deployment of more peacekeepers and the improving access for U.N. troops and aid workers would help alleviate the suffering of the people in South Sudan.

He said the ongoing violence in the country was “a direct result of serious shortcomings in governance and the instrumentalization of ethnicity to further political objectives.”

Mr ki-Moon calls on the government to improve access for U.N. troops already serving on the ground in in the country.

However, last Friday the Council of Ministers said it didn’t reject the deployment of regional protection force in South Sudan.

Michael Makuei, the Minister of Information, said the government was demanding for more clarification on the mandate of the regional force.

“We’ve a lot of concerns. When you talk about the right to apprehend anybody – the President is among anybody – do you mean to say that they have the right to apprehend the President if he is a suspect?” Mr Makuei questions a provision in the document.

“When you talk about protection of installations – installations include military installations – do you mean to say that the UNMISS will protect the military installations?

“And what do you mean by ‘suspect’? All these are issues that need to be clarified.”

He added that the government was yet to agree which countries should bring troops as part of the regional protection force.