By Taban Henry
The Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth said the country has nothing to do with the Russia-Ukraine war as international condemnation continues on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Responding to questions on South Sudan’s position on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Makuei said, “our position on the crisis between Ukraine and Russia, we are in Africa, we have nothing to do with whatever is happening in Europe”.
South Sudan was among the 17 African countries that abstained from voting as the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
South Sudan has not formally responded to why the country did not take part in the voting to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Voted by 141 of the 193 member states of the UN, the vote became only the first in 40 years when the General Assembly sat and passed a resolution to reprimand a member’s aggression.
Kenya, Ghana, Gabon, Rwanda, Djibouti, Congo, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo voted yes.
Some 35 countries abstained from the vote, including Russia and China, and African states – Burundi, Senegal, South Sudan, South Africa, Uganda, Mali and Mozambique.
Ethiopia did not take part in the voting, but Eritrea, North Korea and Syria voted against the resolution.