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European police evacuated from South Sudan without consulting UN

By AFP
Sudan This image provided by the UNMISS United Nation Mission in South Sudan on July 11, 2016 shows some of the at least 3000 displaced women, men and children taking shelter at the UN compound in Tomping area in Juba.  By Beatrice Mategwa UNMISSAFPFile
JUL 20, 2016 LISTEN
This image provided by the UNMISS (United Nation Mission in South Sudan) on July 11, 2016 shows some of the at least 3000 displaced women, men and children taking shelter at the UN compound in Tomping area in Juba. By Beatrice Mategwa (UNMISS/AFP/File)

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Three European countries that evacuated UN police from South Sudan without consulting the United Nations have been told that their officers are no longer welcome in the peacekeeping mission, officials said Wednesday.

About a dozen police from Britain, Germany and Sweden were pulled out as fighting flared in Juba earlier this month, leaving at least 300 people dead.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq said the police "did not stay at their post" and that "those particular officers would be withdrawn and not be replaced by personnel from the same nations." He did not name the countries.

Juba was rocked by three days of heavy fighting in early July between government forces and fighters loyal to ex-rebel leader and now Vice President Riek Machar.

The 12 UN police left South Sudan during evacuation operations organized by their national governments.

"This was done without consulting the mission," said a UN official, who asked not to be named.

"UN peacekeeping has decided to disinvite these PCCs (police-contributing country) from returning their police officers to South Sudan and has conveyed this decision to the concerned countries," added the official.

A spokesperson for the British mission to the United Nations confirmed that two British police officers were evacuated from Juba on July 13, and said a UN police advisor was informed of the decision.

"We judged their temporary removal was necessary for the officers' safety. Their well being is our chief concern," said the spokesperson.

There are about 1,200 police serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, known as UNMISS, which numbers about 13,500 in all.

The police and troops serving in UNMISS are tasked primarily with protecting civilians in South Sudan, which has been torn apart by war since 2013.

In Juba, 32,000 civilians are sheltering in two UN peacekeeping compounds, and UN-protected bases across the country are offering protection to tens of thousands of South Sudanese.

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