June 18, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – The African Union (AU) has sanctioned South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, over its failure – for three consecutive three years – to pay over $9 million membership fees, the South Sudan mission to the AU said.
In a letter addressed to South Sudan’s ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation in Juba, the country’s mission to the continental body said South Sudan diplomats were kicked out of a meeting conducted by the AU on Tuesday.
The letter said the chair of the body informed the South Sudan diplomats that their country had been sanctioned by the continental body and their presence at the meeting hall was illegal and were requested to leave.
“The mission would like to inform your esteemed offices that our country, South Sudan, has been sanctioned due to lack of payment of its contribution to the African Union: AU budget and peace fund,” the letter seen by Nyamilepedia said.
“Today, we were barred from participating in the AU meeting of yesterday, June 16, 2020. It was dramatic and embarrassing scene when the chairperson of the meeting stopped the proceedings to inform South Sudanese diplomats that their participation was illegal, as Republic of South Sudan has been sanctioned following the consecutive three (3) years of none payment,” it added.
The mission said the money owed by South Sudan to the AU is exactly $9,191,234.04.
