South Sudan

South Sudan crisis: China to deploy peacekeeping police officers

South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees enter South Sudan through the Joda crossing point in November 2023. (Photo: UNHCR)

By Lucy Mumbi | Tuesday, May 21, 2024

The deployment comes at a crucial time for South Sudan, which has endured years of conflict, resulting in severe humanitarian crises and widespread displacement.

A team of 12 Chinese peacekeeping police officers is set to depart for South Sudan on Wednesday to undertake peacekeeping missions, China's Ministry of Public Security has announced.

A departure ceremony for the 10th Chinese peacekeeping police unit to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan was held at the ministry's peacekeeping police force training base on Monday.

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“As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the second-largest contributor to peacekeeping operations, China firmly supports and actively participates in UN peacekeeping actions,” an officer from the ministry's International Cooperation Bureau said, as reported by China Daily.

This is China's first dispatch of a peacekeeping force to South Sudan since the transition from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The dispatch is among the ministry's efforts to put the Global Security Initiative into action and fulfil China's responsibilities as a major country. It demonstrates the concrete embodiment of China's public security organs in promoting global security initiatives and fulfilling their responsibilities,” the official said.

The deployment comes at a crucial time for South Sudan, which has endured years of conflict, resulting in severe humanitarian crises and widespread displacement.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), around 17.7 million people are facing acute hunger, with 4.9 million at emergency levels due to ongoing violence and economic decline.

The conflict has driven many into acute food insecurity, with only one in 10 people in emergency hunger areas not receiving assistance due to access constraints and continuous fighting.

In a positive development last week, stakeholders from various sectors agreed to engage in open mediation to find long-term solutions to the ongoing conflicts in South Sudan.

This initiative, led by retired General Lazarus Sumbeiywo, has gained the support of opposition groups, the transitional government, women's organisations, and youth leaders.

At a signing event in Nairobi, General Sumbeiywo stressed the importance of compromise to resolve the long-standing issues since South Sudan's independence in 2011.

"I am pleased that all opposition groups have agreed to engage with the government of South Sudan to address the issues that have led to internal conflicts since 2013. It is time to end the violence that has torn communities apart and caused immense suffering,” he stated.

Under the "Tumaini Peace Initiative," each party will designate two representatives to participate in the mediation.