Watchdog urges UN to renew South Sudan sanctions as gov’t fails to end abuses

JUBA – The Amnesty International has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to renew the targeted sanctions against South Sudan leaders including the arms embargo saying the world’s youngest country has failed to effect reforms needed to end impunity against abuses such as conflict-related sexual violence.

In a statement, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa Deprose Muchena said that the rights watchdog has documented several cases of abuses committed by the troops including at gun point and called on the Security Council to renew the sanctions given the government failure to end these abuses.

“The United Nations Security Council must renew its arms embargo on the territory of South Sudan amid the state’s failure to ensure accountability for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and to protect survivors, witnesses and judicial actors,” Muchena.

“Amnesty International has documented over a dozen cases of conflict-related sexual violence in recent years, including women who were raped at gunpoint. “The UN Security Council must therefore renew its arms embargo on the territory of South Sudan,” Muchena added.