Japan extends SDF mission in South Sudan by 2 months

March 24, 2017

TOKYO- The Japanese government decided at a cabinet meeting Friday to extend by two months the dispatch period of Ground Self-Defense Force engineering troops for a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

The government has already decided to withdraw the GSDF troops from the strife-torn African nation at the end of May.

The existing dispatch plan was due to end this month.

After changing the plan, Defense Minister Tomomi Inada is set to issue an order later on Friday on the withdrawal of the GSDF engineering unit, which has been engaged mainly in road repair work and medical assistance to refugees.

Meanwhile, the dispatch period of GSDF personnel stationed in the command of the U.N. Mission in South Sudan, or UNMISS, will be extended to the end of February 2018.

Under the revised plan, additional aircraft will be deployed for the engineering troops’ withdrawal. Jiji Press