The United Nations Security Council approved on July 27 the resolution that authorizes the deployment of 4,200 Ethiopian troops to Abyei region, Sudan.

United States Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice commented, shortly after the adoption of the resolution:

This morning, the United States voted in favor of UN Security Council Resolution 1990, establishing the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). We are pleased that the Council acted swiftly—and unanimously—to adopt this resolution, which will contribute to ensuring that the agreement both parties reached can be implemented immediately and effectively. This robust peacekeeping presence is an essential part of the viability of these security arrangements to demilitarize Abyei and create conditions for a lasting political settlement.

The resolution gave the force the authority to take “necessary actions,” including the use of military force, to protect civilians or in self-defense, New York Times reported citing diplomatic sources.

Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, Samora Yunus, expressed his readiness to deploy troops to Abyei as soon as possible and discharge its peacekeeping duty, in a statement to ETV last Friday.  Samora Yenus claimed, Ethiopia has won the trust of the UN and the Sudanese parties owing to the capability its troops have displayed at various international peacekeeping missions.

Currently, Ethiopia has 2,427 troops deployed under UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, according to UN data. That puts her as the 11th largest troop contributor.

With the deployment of the current troops, Ethiopia will be the fourth largest contributor, only behind Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.

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