May 26th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The United Nations Security Council on Saturday sanctioned South Sudan’s Defense minister Kuol Manyang Juk and the Country’s cabinet minister Eliah Lomoro who also serves at the same time as the country’s acting foreign minister, among others.
The world body slapped travel ban and asset freeze on the government hardliners on the accusation that the two derailed the peace process.
The world body accused the Defense Minister of instructing the SPLA of actions that violated the Cessation of Hostility Agreement signed in December 2017 between the South Sudan government and a number of opposition groups including the main armed opposition movement under the leadership of the country’s former first vice president Riek Machar, SPLM/SPLA (IO).
“Under [Kuol Manyang] Juuk’s command, SPLA forces violated the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access (ACOH) after it was signed by the Government of South Sudan in 2017 by attacking civilians,” the Security Council said.
I added that the Defense minister provided the fractured SPLA-North with military equipments in violation of the ACOH and ordering the Pagak offensive in 2017 against SPLM-IO under Machar.
“Juuk provided military equipment to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) in violation of the ACOH. In 2017, under Juuk’s command the SPLM expanded or extended the conflict through offensives in Pagak,” the statement said.
Kuol is previously the governor of the defunct Jonglei state before his appointment to the position in 2014.
In a related development, the Council also sanctioned South Sudan’s Cabinet Minister and the acting Foreign Minister Martin Elia Lomoro whom the Council accused of derailing the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement by threatening the media and uttering hard speeches.
“In violation of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access (ACOH) signed by the Government of South Sudan in 2017, Lomoro threatened the press, obstructing humanitarian missions and threated to eliminate the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring the Mechanism (CTSAMM). Lomoro also obstructed the activities of UNMISS,” the world body said
The UNSC also sanctioned the SPLA deputy chief of staff for logistic Malek Rueben and the country’s former SPLA chief of staff Gen. Paul Malong Awan as well as the information minister Michael Makuei Lueth.
On the Opposition side, Governor Kuol Rambang Chuol, SPLM-IO governor of Bieh state was sanctioned as well.
