Egypt abstained Friday from voting on a UN Security Council resolution that authorises a 4,000-strong regional protection force under the umbrella of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. The resolution passed on a majority vote in the council.
Egypt insisted that South Sudan's government much approve such forces, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The statement added that the resolution took South Sudan's preliminary approval of deploying the forces as a gateway to draft detailed aspects of the force without direct consultation with the South Sudan government.
The foreign ministry statement added that there should have been coordination with South Sudan's government with regards to the size of the force, their weaponry, their allegiances, and the timing of their deployment.
"It is unreasonable that the [South Sudan] government is not a party in deciding the details of the [regional protection] force that will operate on its territory," the statement read.
The UN mission would be responsible for "providing a secure environment in and around Juba, the capital, which in early July was the scene of the latest eruption of deadly violence in the young country, exacerbating an already desperate humanitarian situation," a UN News Centre piece read.
Eleven countries voted for the resolution. Three other countries aside from Egypt (Russia, China and Venezuela) abstained.
Egypt took up its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in January.
