By William Madouk Garang
The Minister of Information and Government’s Spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth said government is very disappointed and dissatisfied with recent renewal of sanctions and an arms embargo imposed by UN Security Council (UNSC) on the country.
Minister Lueth was speaking to media on Friday after the Council of Ministers meeting that was chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
UNSC voted by a narrow margin on Thursday extending an arms embargo, travel ban and financial sanctions for targeted individuals in South Sudan for yet another one year.
The vote on South Sudan’s sanctions was 10-0; China, Russia, India, Kenya and Gabon abstained from the voting.
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Mr. Makuei Lueth said that the Council of Ministers endorsed the statement issued by ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation voicing government’s displeasure and strong objection towards the UNSC resolution.
“The government of South Sudan is dissatisfied and disappointed with resolution of the UNSC because this resolution, in the opinion of the government doesn’t serve the interest of the people of South Sudan and doesn’t in any way serve the proper implementation of the agreement,” Makuei Lueth told journalists on Friday.
“We really appreciate the position of China, Russia and India Gabon and Kenya for their steadfast and for standing with the government of South Sudan against unfair resolution,” he added.
He further called on African member states to heed African Union’s resolution which says African problems should be solved by Africans without any external interference.
“We call upon the members of UN Security Council not to listen to individual reports that are presented without being substantiated, and by so doing they take such decision at the time when they are not properly substantiated,” Lueth stressed.
South Sudan has repetitively called for the arms embargo and other sanctions to be lifted. However earlier this month, the UN panel monitoring sanctions recommended that UNSC extended the arms embargo due to ‘persistent violation of ceasefire’ in the country.
The expert expressed concern over the government’s purchase of some ‘new armored’ personnel carriers for the police in March as a violation of arms embargo, however, the government vehemently denied violation adding that they didn’t obtain any army vehicles.
The adopted resolution recognized improvement in respect of ceasefire but echoes ‘alarm and deep concern regarding the political, security, economic and humanitarian crisis across the country.
It extends the arms embargo and sanctions until May 31, 2023, and the mandate for the panel experts till July 1, 2013.