South Sudan ‘does not need more weapons coming in’ to graduate forces – Donald Booth

JUBA – United States’ Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth has told South Sudan leaders that the country does not need more weapons for the graduation of forces because the guns available now in the country are plenty to protect the sovereignty of the world’s youngest country.

Booth made the remarks following a meeting with Vice-presidents Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior and Wani Igga in Juba on Friday.

“South Sudan right now – from our perspective – does not need more weapons coming in and arming more people; to create more displaced people, more economic hardships,” Booth is being quoted as saying.

The top United States envoy’s comment are made to address persistent government narratives that one of the reasons for the delay of the graduation of the unified forces provided for in the revitalized peace agreement is because it lacks weapons as it is under a UN arms embargo.

“There is plenty of room for legitimate needs for a sovereign government to deal with its internal security problems,” the US envoy who has also met President Salva Kiir added.