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US senators want sanctions, UNMISS mandates renewal in S. Sudan 

By William Madouk

Some senators at the United State Senate have called on Joe Biden’s administration to consider renewal of the UNMISS mandate, additional sanctions and other accountability measures on senior government officials.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State – Antony Blinken, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations – Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen yesterday.

Four US lawmakers, Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin, Cory Booker, and Chris Coons; urged Biden to deepen its engagement for renewal of the peacekeeping mission mandate as the UN prepared to vote later this week.

“To date, the international community has failed to meaningfully contribute to changing the course of events in South Sudan,” senators said.

“We encourage you to seize the opportunity presented by the renewal of the UNMISS mandate to make needed changes to support the people of South Sudan on their path toward peace and democracy while holding accountable those who have denied it to them,” they added.

Last year, the United Nations Security Council extended the UNMISS mandate through March 15, 2023.

According to legislatures, renewal of the mandate provides a chance to review US and multilateral policy toward South Sudan and changes intended for peace progression toward free and fair elections.

They also appealed to the US administration’s crackdown on human rights violators and public officials who abuse their positions by mounting accountability measures including an arms embargo.

“We also urge the administration to consider whether additional sanctions and other accountability measures on senior officials in the South Sudanese government,” the senators said

It will include the military, National Security Service, Individuals and actors’ region who enable corruption and the perpetuation of conflict in South Sudan, as well as call for the UN to renew and reinforce the arms embargo.     

“Finally, we reiterate the call by the Senate, made through the unanimous passage of S.Res.473 on May 11, 2022, for the U.S. to advocate with other UN member states to redouble efforts to renew and enforce the UN arms embargo and other sanctions on South Sudan, which are set to expire on May 31, 2023,” they stated

US legislators stressed that South Sudanese leaders failed to make meaningful progress in holding elections as the planned polls were postponed again, adding that they don’t see the likelihood for the elections to be steered as premeditated.

Reports by the UN Security Council’s Panel of Experts, UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and others have detailed abuses committed including widespread sexual violence, mass killings, and other atrocities

According to the UN humanitarian coordinator, the humanitarian situation in South Sudan is dire, with over two-thirds of the population, almost 9 million people—half of them children—in need of aid.

Recently, the transitional government cried foul over the reports written by UN Commission on human rights situations, adding that they won’t accept the renewal of its mandate.

Ruben Madol Arol, the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs accused the commission of extending its mandate beyond human rights monitoring and even the revitalized peace agreement. 

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