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JUBA. — Thousands of South Sudanese held peaceful demonstrations in the streets of Juba yesterday to protest against the Africa Union-endorsed regional force.

The protesters marched to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) premises and handed over their petition, protesting against a proposal by the AU for the deployment of regional peacekeeping troops to the war-torn country.

The protests which were organised by a civil society and backed by the government opposed the planned deployment, proposed targeted sanctions on the country’s leaders and to sent a call for the review of the mandate of UNMISS.

“We members of the civil society organisations, women leagues, student unions, youth and faith-based organisations and representatives of chiefs in South Sudan are presenting this petition during this peaceful demonstration to reject the military intervention and unjustified intended sanctions against South Sudan,” said Akouch Ajang, head of South Sudan’s Civil Society Alliance.

Ajang said the civil society organisations in South Sudan are not in favor of any intervention by foreign forces.

“We reject the increment of UN troops to South Sudan,” he said.

Ajang also said the South Sudan civil society instead wants the international community to support the peace agreement which was inked in August last year. — Xinhua.