January 9th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The office of South Sudan’s first vice has said that Wednesday’s United States sanctions against FVP Taban Deng Gai were unfortunate and misplaced saying Gai has been pursuing peace in the world’s youngest nation.
The United States Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Gai, accusing him of involvement in serious human rights abuse as well as creating distrust among the opposition which the US said has prolonged the conflict.
“The US sanctions against the FVP of the Republic HE Gen Taban Deng Gai are as unfortunate as they are misplaced. Gen Taban Deng Gai’s records and contributions to peace building and reconciliation in South Sudan speak for itself,” Agel Machar, Gai’s spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Firstly, as the then chief negotiator of SPLM/A-IO, he helped navigate the country back to peace against all the odds and the obstacles brought about by the hardliners and radicals on both sides of the conflict. Secondly, his decision to choose peace over renewed war in 2016 saved lives, the peace agreement (Now Revitalized) and the country from a potential major disaster,” he added.
He praised Taban for “championing the Arusha Agreement on the Reunification of SPLM which can greatly contribute towards a more peaceful and unified country.”
The media official further reiterated Gai’s willingness to step down “from the position of first Vice President for sake of peace and reconciliation. The FVP is a man of peace and the whole country and the Region know that.”
