South Sudan has criticized the African Union (AU) and the United States for calling for all-out sanctions against the nation saying the threats of sanctions would derail the peace process.
“When you talk of sanctions, it cannot bring peace to the country,” Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Mawien Makol was quoted saying by the Juba Monitor newspaper. “What we need as a government is encouragement from the region, the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and from the members of the international community.”
At the just concluded 30th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the AU Commission chairperson Mousa Faki Mahamat said time had come to slap sanctions on peace saboteurs in South Sudan.
“The time has come to sanction those who are blocking peace in South Sudan, ”Mr. Mahamat said on Sunday.
These remarks were echoed by the US pressing the UN Security Council to approve sanctions against President Salva Kiir’s government for failing to restore peace and stability.
Ms. Nikki Haley, US top diplomat to the UN said her country had cut backing President Kiir’s leadership and termed him as “unfit partner” to the US.
Mr. Makol has insisted that the massive campaign for sanctions risk spoiling the pursuit for lasting peace and could likely fuel the war and the suffering of the people.
“Sanctions will not help bring peace to South Sudan, instead it would spoil the chance for lasting peace,” he said.
The multiple violations of the recent Cessation of Hostilities truce by both government and rebel forces have prompted the calls for sanctions against South Sudan.
