UNITED NATIONS
The United Nations Security
Council on Thursday renewed an arms embargo and sanctions against South Sudan
amid continuing unrest in the country.UN commanders in South Sudan inspect confiscated guns in 2014. Courtesy
A resolution to extend the ban
through May 2023, drafted by the United States, was passed with 10 out of 15
votes, with Gabon, Kenya, India, Russia, and China abstaining.
The embargo was imposed in 2018 after a peace agreement
ended five years of bloody civil war between factions loyal to President Salva
Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar.
When the embargo was last
extended a year ago, authorities in South Sudan were given a list of political
and security conditions in order for the restrictions to be lifted or relaxed.
However, earlier this month, a
UN expert panel recommended that that the embargo remain in place over
persistent ceasefire violations as well as over the government's imports of
armoured vehicles in violation of the ban.
And UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres said more progress is needed in the areas of disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration of combatants.
A diplomatic source said the
resolution passed Thursday contains a provision for a possible easing of the
restrictions for non-lethal military equipment if it is needed to fulfil the
2018 peace agreement.
The provision was included at
the request of the Security Council's three African members, Kenya, Gabon, and
Ghana, the diplomatic source said.
The youngest country in the
world, South Sudan has experienced chronic instability since becoming
independent from Sudan in 2011.
The 2013-2018 war left nearly
400,000 dead and millions displaced.
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