UN Security Council to slap arms embargo against South Sudan

The United States is South Sudan’s biggest aid provider and was a major backer of its 2011 independence from Sudan.

But patience from South Sudan’s foreign allies has worn out after countless efforts failed to bring peace to the country.

Now in its fifth year of a war, which target ethnic groups and full of merciless killings, gang rapes and other atrocities, carried out mostly by the South Sudan government and its allied militias, the UNSC is left with no option but to impose arms embargo and other strict measures.

An early draft resolution, seen Tuesday by AFP, underlines “a deep concern” of the Security Council “in the face of the failure of South Sudanese leaders to end hostilities and flagrant violations.”

The document would also renew sanctions already imposed on South Sudan for a period of at least one year.

The Security Council, however, is faced by many challenges including reluctant of several member states such as Russia, China, and Ethiopia. These countries argue that they won’t rush to impose sanctions and arms embargo because they do not want to jeopardize the ongoing mediation led by the East African regional organization, IGAD.

The Sudanese government on Tuesday unveiled a new power sharing agreement which is mostly similar to the Entebbe proposal.

Under the proposed deal, prominent opposition and SPLM-IO leader, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon. would be reinstated to the position of the First Vice-President.

In contrast, the United States and European allies stress the fragility of the agreement and deem it necessary to maintain maximum pressure to push the warring parties toward signing a sustainable and permanent peace agreement.