Saturday morning’s Nikkei wrote that concern is mounting about ongoing SDF peacekeeping operations in South Sudan on account of continued conflict there. Although the Defense Ministry has stressed that stability is gradually being restored, some Japanese politicians are concerned about the efficacy of the ceasefire accord between the warring parties because the SDF mission is premised upon it. As the GOJ plans to give Sudan-bound SDF personnel the additional duty starting in November of going to the defense of foreign troops in the event of an enemy attack, the paper projected that the SDF operation may become a major point of contention during the Diet session to be convened in September.