The African Union (AU) has joined President Salva Kiir and called on the United Nations to remove “counterproductive” sanctions and arms embargo against South Sudan.

During the 35^th Session of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa held over the weekend, the continental body urged the United Nations member states, particularly the United States, to remove what it called “counterproductive” measures being used as tools for political and economic pressure.

“The African Union call upon the United States of America to lift all unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Government, its Leadership and People of South Sudan which are counterproductive to efforts promoting post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding, and that due consideration is made by the United Nations to lift the Arms Embargo imposed on that country,” the body says in a statement.

In May 2021, the United Nations Security Council extended the arms embargo against South Sudan own grounds of human rights violations and proliferation of firearms.

President Salva Kiir has repeatedly appealed to the Security Council to lift the arms embargo, which he says was serving as an obstacle to the implementation of chapter two of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

Sanctions and arms embargo praised              

In response to the call by the AU member states, the UNSC instead heaped praise on sanctions and arms embargoes saying they were sending an “unmistakable signal”.

Speaking at a briefing to the council Monday, Rosemary DiCarlo, the Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said targeted sanctions have worked more effectively on listed individuals and entities than comprehensive sanctions.

“The United Nations Security Council sanctions are no longer the “blunt instrument” they once were, having transformed since the 1990s into “a vital tool” that minimizes negative consequences for civilians, and States that are not directly being targeted,” she said in a statement.

These sanctions measures, DiCarlo said, are supporting conflict resolution in Libya, Mali, South Sudan and Yemen; deter unconstitutional changes of government in places like Guinea Bissau; and curb the illicit exploitation of natural resources that fund the activities of armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.

DiCarlo told the council that “The imposition of sanctions solely for such acts is a relatively recent and welcome step. Its use sends an unmistakable signal”, Ms DiCarlo argued.