South Sudan’s vice president James Wani Igga has urged the United Nations not to impose undeserved sanctions against leaders working to implement a peace deal to end 21 months of conflict in the country.
President Salva Kiir signed a peace accord with rebel leader Riek Machar, but fighting has continued in certain parts of the country, which seceded from Sudan in 2011.
Addressing world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York, Wani Igga said that his country faced a future full of hope especially if promises of financial and humanitarian aid are delivered.
The UN Security Council I July imposed a global travel ban and assets freeze on six commanders – Three from the government forces and three from the rebels. The six are the first South Sudanese to be put on the UN’s blacklist.
Last month, the UN sought sanctions on the army chief and a rebel commander, but the move was blocked by Angola, Russia, China and Venezuela.
South Sudan descended into bloodshed in December 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of planning a coup, unleashing a wave of killings that has split the country along ethnic lines.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged South Sudan not to betray and disappoint the international community supporting the latest deal.
