U.S. proposes U.N. sanctions against six senior S.Sudan officials

28/5/2018 6:46

        The United States has
        proposed the U.N. Security Council impose sanctions against
        several South Sudanese ministers and officials, accusing them of
        obstructing peace efforts and blocking humanitarian assistance
        to civilians, according to a draft resolution seen by Reuters on
        Sunday.
        
        Security Council diplomats are due to meet for negotiations
        on the text on Tuesday and a vote is scheduled for Thursday. A
        resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia,
        China, France, Britain or the United States to pass.
        
        The council sanctioned several senior South Sudanese
        officials on both sides of the conflict in 2015, but a U.S. bid
        to impose an arms embargo in December 2016 failed.
        
        In November, Russia said it would be counterproductive to
        impose further targeted sanctions or an arms embargo on South
        Sudan.
        
        The proposed measures would freeze the assets and ban travel
        for the six officials, including Defense Minister Kuol Manyang
        Juuk, former army chief Paul Malong, Minister of Information
        Michael Lueth, and deputy chief of defense for logistics in the
        South Sudan Army Malek Reuben Riak Rengu.
        
        It also targets Koang Rambang, governor of Bieh State, who
        the United States accused of leading military attacks and
        obstructing aid to civilians; and cabinet affairs minister
        Martin Elia Lomuro.
        
        South Sudan, which split off from its northern neighbor
        Sudan in 2011, has been gripped by a civil war sparked by
        political rivalry between President Salva Kiir and his former
        deputy Riek Machar.
        
        Mawien Makol, South Sudan's foreign affairs spokesman, told
        Reuters the government was aware of the new sanctions proposal
        from Washington.
        
        "We are still saying that sanctions is not the
        solution...and also imposing sanctions on individuals is not the
        solution. The solution is to encourage the parties to bring
        peace in the country," Makol said.
        
        Talks in Ethiopia to revive South Sudan's failed 2015 peace
        pact and end the civil war broke up last week without a deal.