Britain renews sanctions on South Sudan army chief, key military figures  

JUBA – The United Kingdom has renewed financial sanctions against South Sudan’s Chief of Defense Forces General Santino Deng Wol along with senior army and opposition officers, according to a notice issued on January 12.

Others on the list include leader of the breakaway SPLA-IO faction General Simon Gatwech Dual, South Sudan deputy chief of defense forces for training, information minister Michael Makuei Lueth, ex-army chief Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak, ex-presidential Guards Commander Gen. Marial Chinuong, deputy defense minister Malek Rueben, and late opposition commander General Peter Gatdet Yaka.

In a statement dated January 12, 2022, the United Kingdom said the measures, some of which were adopted by the powerful South Sudan friend in 2015, “impose asset freezes including on those persons who are, or have been, involved in the commission of serious human rights violation or abuse, violations of international humanitarian law, obstruction of the delivery or distribution of, or access to, humanitarian assistance, the misappropriation of South Sudanese state funds, and any other action, policy or activity which threatens the peace, stability and security of South Sudan or undermines efforts to resolve the political crisis and armed conflicts in South Sudan.”

South Sudan reacts

In respond to the latest sanctions renewal, South Sudan information minister Michael Makuei – who is also under United States sanctions for prolonging the conflict – said the British measures undermine the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“All these efforts have been asserted by individuals and policies of certain governments in the West in order to obstruct the implementation of the agreement, because if the agreement is implemented and peace prevails in South Sudan they will lose their positions,” Makuei said, according to the Eye Radio.

“They target people whom they think are effective so that they bring down the efforts asserted by the President. Now, if I am sanctioned, I am sanctioned for what? I am sanctioned from going to Britain or are they sanctioned from doing what?” he asked.