CITING THE URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS PERSISTENT SECURITY CHALLENGES AS THE COUNTRY MOVES TOWARD A FRAGILE PEACE, THE AFRICAN UNION PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL, AU PSC HAS URGED THE UNITED NATIONS TO LIFT THE ARMS EMBARGO ON SOUTH SUDAN.
THIS CALL FOLLOWS THE AU’S MEETING THAT REVIEWED SOUTH SUDAN’S SLOW PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE REVITALIZED AGREEMENT ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT, R-ARCSS.
THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL, UNSC HAD FIRST IMPOSED SANCTIONS ON SOUTH SUDAN IN 2015, INCLUDING TRAVEL BANS TARGETING SENIOR OFFICIALS, FOLLOWING REPEATED VIOLATIONS OF THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT, THE COUNCIL ENACTED A FULL ARMS EMBARGO ON THE COUNTRY IN 2018.
WHILE THE EMBARGO WAS INTENDED TO RESTRICT THE FLOW OF WEAPONS INTO A VOLATILE REGION, IT HAS STALLED CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF THE PEACE PROCESS, LIMITING THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY, TGONU FROM ACQUIRING THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE UNIFICATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF A NATIONAL ARMY.
