Vice President James Wani Igga says the UN Security Council should consult the South Sudanese government before renewing the mandate of UNMISS.

He said it would be unacceptable for the Security Council to renew the mandate without the consent of the government.

At a press briefing in New York on Thursday, US special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, said the US is trying to move forward a resolution for the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of UNMISS.

“Any renewal of the UNMISS mandate without consultations and consent of our government is not right and unacceptable,” Mr Igga warned.

“It’s a well-known fact that matters of this nature are sovereign and due consultation is imperative.”

The current mandate expires at the end of next month. It provides for protection of civilians, but the government wants the mandate to include capacity building.