The Thai military is closely monitoring the possible impact of the recent coup in Sudan on its 273 troops stationed with the United Nations-sponsored peacekeeping mission in adjacent South Sudan.
The coup, which toppled the president Omar al-Bashir-led administration on Thursday, has not affected their work, but the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters needs to stay alert as it plans to send in new soldiers to replace them next month, its spokesman Maj Gen Krit Chantharaniyom said on Friday.
"Chief of Defence Forces Pornpipat Benyasri has expressed concern over the coup," he said.
However, Thai soldiers are only expected to experience some minor problems if airports are closed. The troops from engineer units, led by Lt Col Burin Thirawatthanawisit, flew to South Sudan last December for a one-year mission.
The UN has asked the troops to help keep the peace as well as repair intercity roads in the country.
Their assignment was to restore hundreds of kilometres of road from South Sudan's capital Juba to other cities.
