The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on two South Sudanese officials it accused of fomenting conflict, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Monday, in its latest move to pressure the country’s politicians to form a unity government.
Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Elia Lomuro and Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs Kuol Manyang Juuk were blacklisted for their role in perpetuating the conflict by obstructing the peace process, Treasury said in a statement.
We welcome today's @USTreasury sanctions on two #SouthSudan government officials for their attempts to threaten the peace process. These actions rob South Sudan of the security, stability, and confidence in government that is needed to negotiate and implement a lasting peace.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 16, 2019
This came even as South Sudan’s government on Friday allocated $40m to speed up the integration of its soldiers with armed rebel fighters to create a unified national army – one of the provisions of a stalled peace agreement aimed at creating a power-sharing government after years of civil war.
The move reported on Friday came as President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar held rare face-to-face talks in the capital, Juba.
