American lawmakers call for renewal of international sanctions on South Sudan

JUBA, MARCH 15, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A group of four United States lawmakers have written to senior officials in the Biden Administration calling for renewal of international sanctions including arms embargo on South Sudan.

In their letter to the US secretary of state, secretary of treasury and the country’s envoy to the UN, senators Chris Van Hollen, Benjamin L. Cardin, Cory A. Booker, and Christopher A. Coons called on the US government to ensure that the arms embargo, among other sanctions, is renewed as it ends in May.

“We reiterate the call by the Senate, made through the unanimous passage of S.Res.473 on May 11, 2022, for the U.S. to advocate with other UN member states to redouble efforts to renew and enforce the UN arms embargo and other sanctions on South Sudan, which are set to expire on May 31, 2023,” the letter said.

“We encourage you to seize the opportunity presented by the renewal of the UNMISS mandate to make needed changes to support the people of South Sudan on their path toward peace and democracy while holding accountable those who have denied it to them,” they added.

They called on the Biden Administration to explore whether other more sanctions should be imposed on peace spoilers and those stealing public money amid hunger in the country.

“We also urge the administration to consider whether additional sanctions and other accountability measures on senior officials in the South Sudanese government, military, and National Security Service, or individuals and actors in the region who enable corruption and the perpetuation of conflict in South Sudan, could contribute to the pursuit of these goals,” they said.

They further accused the international community of failing to meaningfully contribute to changing the course of events in South Sudan.