An envoy of the IGAD says they expect the deployment of a Protection and Deterrent Force to happen separately from that of the UN Peacekeeping force in South Sudan.

In March, IGAD Heads of State requested the UN Security Council to fund the deployment of a regional force which will protect monitoring and verification teams and civilians in the country.

Yesterday, the Security Council extended the mandate of UNMISS for 6 months, and authorized it to protect civilians and support the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement.

The Kenya’s Retired General, Lazarus Sumbeywo, who is one of the mediators for the South Sudan Peace Dialogue, told the media in Juba today that the IGAD forces will serve a separate mandate from that of UNMISS.

“Well, originally we are supposed to be distinct,” he said. “The request that we made with New York was a distinct protection forces to protect our monitors; and they were supposed to come from the region, as also the monitors come from the region.”

The IGAD troops are expected to come from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi.