Summary UN Secretary General recommended to Security Council that 5,500 more soldiers be sent to S. Sudan.
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Monday recommended to the Security Council that 5,500 more soldiers and 423 extra police be sent to violence-wracked South Sudan to reinforce the UN mission there.
The UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) currently has nearly 7,000 soldiers, so the new deployment would bring the total figure to about 12,000. It also currently has nearly 700 police and 2,000 civilian employees.
Reinforcements would be drawn from other UN missions in Africa, according to a letter from Ban to the Council, a copy of which was seen by AFP.
The Security Council launched emergency consultations on Monday on the situation in South Sudan to study Ban's requests.
The 15-member Council was expected to announce a decision on Tuesday, said French envoy Gerard Araud, who currently presides over the body.
Ban recommended that five infantry units, three attack helicopters, three transport helicopters and one C-130 military transport plane be transferred to South Sudan, gripped by violence for more than a week.
Fighting erupted after President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar, who was fired from the government in July, of attempting a coup in the world's youngest nation.
Three police units with a total of 423 men, and human rights experts would also be sent to South Sudan, under Ban's plan.
"In light of the deteriorating security situation in South Sudan, I have taken steps to urgently strengthen the protection capabilities of UNMISS," Ban said in his letter.
"I would be grateful if the Security Council would approve the transfer of the relevant personnel and assets to UNMISS on an urgent basis in order to help ensure the protection of civilians and the protection of United Nations personnel and assets."
