By The City Review
On Friday, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Monday Semaya Kumba, co-chaired a high-level coordination meeting with Mr. Guang Cong, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
The monthly meeting is a forum where both parties resolve operational challenges and devise plans for achieving shared priorities and addressing issues of mutual concern. Hon. Semaya assured the meeting that the government intends to deepen cooperation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
On his part, Mr. Guang Cong, in a statement to the press, emphasized the importance of the meeting, stating that (UNMISS) is ready to assist the government in making progress with each of the five benchmarks for lifting the arms embargo against South Sudan, and assessed progress under each benchmark, assuring of UNMISS’ commitment and support to assist South Sudan to get the Arms Embargo lifted as soon as possible.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, Hon. Ramadan Goc, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the continuous individual sanctions and arms embargo by the Security Council had impact on sustainable peace and security in the country.
In his statement at the 79th Session of UNGA, the Foreign Affairs Minister said the punitive measures by the Security Council had prevented the South Sudan government from maintaining effective deterrence against adverse non-state actors that mount violence and insecurity.
The Minister further expressed that despite calls from South Sudan, the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority of Development (IGAD) to lift the sanctions, the Security Council had maintained its stand.
He emphasized that the move had created a perception on potential investors to shun away from investing in the country, with the mindset that it is under sanctions.
South Sudan has experienced relative peace for the last six years, but the punitive measures imposed on the country do reflect the effort made by the government.
Goc urged for the reform in the Security Council to fit the purpose of today’s global dynamics and realities.
“The UN Security Council should incorporate the voices of Africans in an equitable way that reflects the continent’s capability in maintaining world order and stability,” he said
The Sanctions
In 2018, the United Nations Security Council placed sanctions on South Sudan, in a move that the body said, was aimed at ‘stopping the flow of weapons to armed groups in South Sudan.’
In a resolution adopting by a vote, where nine members favoured and six countries abstained, the 15-member body obliged all UN Member States to take necessary measures regarding the arms embargo, a decision was intended to remain in effect until 31 May 2019.
“Under the terms of the resolution, all Member States must prevent arms and related equipment of all types – including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and any spare parts – from entering South Sudan,” a statement from the UN, following the resolution, read in part, and added:
“The Council also renewed the South Sudan Sanctions regime until 31 May 2019 and the Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts until 1 July 2019.”
And last year (2023), the UN organ extended its sanctions on South Sudan, for another year, further including assets freezes, travel bans and an arms embargo. Numerous members of the Council, at the time, however, stressed that instead of sanctions, the country needed a carefully managed support system to facilitate its transitional journey and overcome its security issues.