- Title: Kenya withdraws first batch of troops from U.N. South Sudan mission
- Date: 9th November 2016
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (NOVEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLANE CARRYING A BATCH OF THE KENYAN FORCES ON RUNWAY MILITARY OFFICIALS WALKING TOWARDS PLANE VARIOUS OF PEACEKEEPERS DISEMBARKING FROM PLANE, WALKING IN SINGLE FILE MORE OF THE PEACEKEEPERS DISEMBARKING MAJOR GENERAL BENJAMIN BIWOTT TALKING TO JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAJOR GENERAL BENJAMIN BIWOTT, EASTERN COMMAND, KENYA DEFENSE FORCES, SAYING: "We have started our withdrawal from South Sudan following the directive given by his excellency the president and commander in chief of the Kenya Defense Forces last week. KDF has taken part in many peacekeeping operations from 1979 to-date. To-date we have taken part in peacekeeping operations in 44 countries in all these operations Kenyan Defense Forces have perfumed very well, they have performed with valor, gallantry and we have also paid the ultimate price in some of the missions." VARIOUS OF PEACEKEEPERS DISEMBARKING, WALKING TOWARDS TERMINAL (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAJOR GENERAL BENJAMIN BIWOTT, EASTERN COMMAND, KENYA DEFENSE FORCES, SAYING: "We are committed in peacekeeping operations as a credible and a well trained force deeply rooted in professionalism. Today we are very happy to have our soldiers back and the total number of soldiers who have come back are 100 and we are going to continue implementing the directive given by commander in chief till all our forces are withdrawn from South Sudan."
- Embargoed: 24th November 2016 13:31
- Keywords: Kenya South Sudan troops UNMISS United Nations
- Location: NAIROBI, KENYA AND JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
- City: NAIROBI, KENYA AND JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA00157Q6HJB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The first batch of Kenyan troops who had served in a U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan arrived home on Wednesday (November 9), after Nairobi ordered them to withdraw in response to the sacking of the Kenyan commander of the UNMISS (United Nations Mission in South Sudan) force.
Kenya said last week it would pull its forces out after a U.N. inquiry accused UNMISS of failing to respond to an attack on a Juba hotel during fighting in July. Kenya's Lieutenant General Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki was fired.
Kenyan Major General Benjamin Biwott told reporters at Nairobi's international airport that Kenya has started its withdrawal from South Sudan as about 100 soldiers flew in.
"KDF (Kenya Defense Forces) has taken part in many peacekeeping operations from 1979 to-date. To-date we have taken part in peacekeeping operations in 44 countries in all these operations Kenyan Defense Forces have perfumed very well, the have performed with valor, gallantry and we have also paid the ultimate price in some of the missions," he said.
He said further batches of soldiers from the roughly 1,000-strong Kenyan contingent would arrive in coming days, although he did not give a precise timing for completing the withdrawal from UNMISS, which comprised about 12,000 troops.
The general said that Kenya is committed to peacekeeping operations as a credible and a well trained force deeply rooted in professionalism.
"Today we are very happy to have our soldiers back and the total number of soldiers who have come back are 100 and we are going to continue implementing the directive given by commander in chief till all our forces are withdrawn from South Sudan," he said.
The Juba hotel attack occurred in July during several days of fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former vice president, Riek Machar. The two men have long been political rivals and come from different ethnic groups.
A civil conflict erupted in South Sudan in December 2013, but the two leaders signed a peace deal in 2015 that was meant to halt the fighting, but it failed to stick. Machar has since left the country and sporadic clashes have continued. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None