Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during an
emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York
City. PHOTO | DREW ANGERER | AFP
The UN Security Council will vote Thursday on a draft resolution
presented by the United States that would give warring sides in South
Sudan until June 30 to end fighting or face possible sanctions.
The
proposed measure, which was seen by AFP, lists South Sudan's defence
minister among six officials who could be put on a UN sanctions
blacklist if the sides fail to reach a peace deal.
The
draft resolution would require UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to
report by June 30 whether fighting has stopped and whether the sides
have "come to a viable political agreement."
If not,
the council "shall consider" imposing the sanctions and possibly an arms
embargo within five days, according to the draft resolution.
Diplomats
said it remained unclear whether the United States will win the
required nine votes in the 15-member council to put in motion the move
to punish South Sudan's leaders.
South Sudan won
independence from Sudan in 2011, with critical backing from the United
States, which remains Juba's biggest aid donor.
But the US administration has grown increasingly frustrated with
President Salva Kiir's government as the brutal war grinds on, now in
its fourth year.
In an op-ed on South Sudan published this week in the Washington Post, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said: "We have no more time to waste on empty promises."
"By
imposing financial and travel restrictions on individuals responsible
for threatening the peace, we can ensure they pay a cost for
perpetuating violence," she wrote.
The United States
last week proposed sanctions against the six South Sudanese officials
but amended its proposal following negotiations to add the June 30
deadline.
Six face sanctions
The
proposed sanctions blacklist would target Defence Minister Kuol Manyang
Juk for leading attacks on the northeastern town of Pagak that was
captured from rebel forces in 2017.
Also listed is
cabinet minister Martin Elia Lomuro for threatening the press,
obstructing humanitarian aid and impeding the work of the UN
peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
Information
Minister Michael Makuei is cited for his role in planning an attack in
2014 on a United Nations compound in Bor and overseeing a campaign to
suppress the media.
Former military chief Paul Malong
faces possible sanctions for ordering government forces to attack
civilians, schools and hospitals and deputy army chief of staff Malek
Reuben for overseeing an offensive in 2015.
Also
included is Koang Rambang Chol for leading attacks in northern Bieh
state and ordering his forces to impede the work of aid workers.
The
six would face a global travel ban and assets freeze if the draft
resolution is adopted at the meeting scheduled for 1900 GMT.
Since
the start of the war in December 2013, nearly 1.8 million people have
been forced to flee their homes and tens of thousands have been killed.
In 2016, Washington failed to win enough votes at the Security Council for the arms embargo and targeted sanctions.
Ethiopia
is leading a regional peace effort, hosting talks between the
government and rebel groups, but there has been no breakthrough.
No comments:
Post a Comment