South Sudan: Igad threatens sanctions if talks fail; US wants UN trusteeship

Salva Kiir (left), President of South Sudan, and Riek Machar, SPLM Opposition leader, hand over the Cessation of Hostilities treaty over the war in South Sudan on May 9, 2014 in Addis Ababa. AFP PHOTO / ZACHARIAS ABUBEKER  

By FRED OLUOCH, TEA Special Correspondent

In Summary

• US is preparing a draft resolution that would authorise international financial penalties and travel bans on leaders of government and rebel forces judged to be blocking a peace settlement.
• Igad — after dragging its feet over sanctions for months — is likely to be forced to act because three members of the UN Security Council, led by the US, have drafted a master plan to put South Sudan on the trusteeship similar to that of Iraq, for 10 years.
• The proposed sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans within the region, and the denial of the supply of arms and ammunition and any other material that could be used in war. If need be, Igad leaders warned, they would directly intervene in South Sudan to protect life and restore peace and stability.

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The Inter-Governmental Authority of Development is preparing to impose sanctions on the two warring parties in South Sudan should they fail to reach a political solution before the 15-day deadline.

The Igad Heads of State Summit had early in November given both the President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar factions up to November 28 to agree on a power-sharing formula and end all hostilities or face targeted sanctions.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amina Mohamed told The EastAfrican that Igad countries had made it clear that they will impose sanctions if there is continued stalemate at the expiry of the deadline.

READ: Igad ‘forces’ protocol on Kiir, Machar to resolve political crisis

The US is preparing a draft resolution that would authorise international financial penalties and travel bans on leaders of government and rebel forces judged to be blocking a peace settlement.

But two council members with veto authority — China and Russia — are known to be unenthusiastic about such a move and could prevent the UN from initiating sanctions and an arms embargo.

Still, Igad — after dragging its feet over sanctions for months — is likely to be forced to act because three members of the UN Security Council, led by the US, have drafted a master plan to put South Sudan on the trusteeship similar to that of Iraq, for 10 years.

The proposed sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans within the region, and the denial of the supply of arms and ammunition and any other material that could be used in war. If need be, Igad leaders warned, they would directly intervene in South Sudan to protect life and restore peace and stability.

READ: South Sudan warring sides face 'punitive' sanctions

The US began imposing bilateral sanctions on individuals in May while the UN has also threatened sanctions. However, diplomatic sources in Addis Ababa disclosed that although targeted sanctions are imminent, most Igad partner states would be hard-pressed to impose them because they have operations inside South Sudan and want to continue to do business with Juba.

The UN trusteeship option is due to concern among key South Sudan donors that President Kiir and Dr Machar are not likely to reach a compromise because they are more interested on settling their differences through the military option, even though there is a looming famine with 1.8 million internally displaced and over 500,000 taking refuge in neighbouring countries.

The proposal is still at the draft stage, with indications that China and Russia could oppose it. However, those privy to the proposal argue that China may tag along provided that the UN entry does not change Beijing’s status as the dominant player in the oil sector in South Sudan.

Ms Mohamed said the proposal was drafted before the November 7 Igad summit, but after the warring parties asked for more time, the leaders gave the mandate to Ethiopia to request the drafters to put on hold discussions on the proposal until the Igad countries exhaust the processes they have put in place to stabilise South Sudan. 

The UN option—to be known as United Nations Assistance Mission for South Sudan—will be a political mission headed by a special representative of the UN Secretary General. It will have a mandate to advise the government and people of South Sudan on political dialogue and national reconciliation, strengthen institutions of governance, assist in the electoral process, judicial and legal reforms, protect civilians and ensure security.

However, the UN option is not without some opposition with the spokesperson of Dr Machar, James Gatdet Dak terming the UN option “premature, unnecessary and would amount to external interference.