Juba, June 1, 2015 (SSNA) — South Sudanese government on Monday expelled United Nations’ Humanitarian Coordinator, Toby Lanzer, who has recently been appointed to take up a new post in a few weeks.
The move comes as relations between UN and the violence-torn nation have increasingly become tense.
The United Nations strongly condemned the move and has called on Juba to immediately withdraw its decision. The world body also calls on South Sudanese government to respect international agreements and to fully cooperate with all UN’s agencies.
"The Secretary-General calls on the government of South Sudan to reverse its decision immediately," a UN statement reads in parts.
Lanzer, who also doubled as deputy head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan, has been applauded by the UN for his work in South Sudan.
“Mr Lanzer has been instrumental in addressing the increasing humanitarian needs of conflict-affected communities in the country and ensuring that life-saving humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable," the statement added.
UN disclosed that Lanzer was not in the country when the decision to expel him was announced.
The abrupt dismissal of Lanzer has been widely interpreted as a result of his last month criticism against Juba after government forces committed massacre, raped women and young girls, and kidnapped young boys in the oil-rich Unity State.