The head of the UN Mission in South Sudan or UNMISS has issued a statement asking the Government of South Sudan to reverse the order of expulsion to a human rights officer.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ordered UNMISS Human Rights Officer Sandra Beidas to leave the country within 48 hours at the end of October.Hilde Johnson says the order is in breach of the legal obligations of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan under the Charter of the United Nations.
She explained she held a number of meetings at the highest level, including with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, to seek clarification on the reasons behind the order and to protest against this decision.
Ms Johnson added that the staff member was redeployed to the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, pending a decision on her future status.
The statement says human rights monitoring, investigation and reporting, and building capacity, is a core element of the mandate of UNMISS which must be protected.
Ms Johnson asked the Government to allow the Mission’s Human Rights Officers to carry out their mandate.