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| [PHOTO: UNifeed] |
New York: The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities of South Sudan designated by a sanctions committee which is also established through the same resolution.
Acting under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the UN Charter the Security Council can now impose a travel ban and an assets freeze on individuals and entities as recommended by the sanctions committee.
Explaining the vote, the US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said "today in South Sudan, quite literally, a young generation's future is being held ransom by political actors who – despite all costs – refuse to compromise. This cannot continue, and those who frustrate peace must begin to pay the price."
Making clear that he voted in favour of the resolution "only to preserve the unity of the Council" the representative of Russian Federation Petr Iliichev said that "nobody should have illusions that we unconditionally support the implementation of sanctions regime against South Sudan."
Iliichev also said "as progress is being made in negotiations between warring sides South Sudan continues to need understanding and unified support rather the pressure and threats which could lead to opposite results."
Representative of South Sudan Francis Deng argued that the sanctions cannot have a positive impact on the peace process.
Deng said "the critical question is whether sanctions are a punishment for failure to make peace or an inducement for peace. The implications of either are of critical importance. If they are a punishment, then the issue ends there. If they are an inducement, then they constitute a negative measure that can only generate a negative response and be counterproductive."
More than 1.5 million people have been displaced and 2.5 million are in dire need of humanitarian assistance since fighting broke out in December 2013 between government forces and those loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar. -UNifeed