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Election of 5 non-permanent members of the Security Council by the United Nations General Assembly on 8 June 2018 / AFP
The UN Security Council on Friday imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan and sanctions against two military officials, while diplomatic dealings have not, in nearly five years of conflict, succeeded in ending the civil war.
The resolution, presented by the United States, was narrowly adopted by nine member countries of the highest authority of the United Nations. Russia, China and four other nations abstained.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the Council that support for the arms embargo will send a message to Sudan's leaders of the South, meaning that "we are tired of delays and blockages" in the implementation of peace agreements.
"These are weapons that armed groups used to shoot fathers in front of women and children, to steal convoys of food aid or to attack women and girls," said the representative of the United States. before the members of the Council before the vote
The adopted text establishes an arms embargo until 31 May 2019 for South Sudan. It authorizes UN member states to destroy or neutralize any cargo of weapons prohibited under the embargo.
Adopted resolution highlights "deep concern" of the Security Council "in the face of failed leadership South Sudan to put an end to hostilities and "condemns continued and flagrant violations" of the ceasefire agreement and of free humanitarian access concluded in 2015.
South Sudan has been in civil war since 2013, the country having gained independence from Sudan in 2011.
The United States has been pushing hard to obtain the necessary votes to pass the embargo, having failed in 2016 to convince the Security Council to support the measuring and cutting the flow of arms to South Sudan
"People are burned alive and hanged from trees by armed groups in South Sudan. It's barbaric, "denounced Ms. Haley.
– Six countries abstain –
The resolution was however adopted by a narrow margin, a symbol of divisions within the Council of Europe.
To be adopted, a resolution must have at least nine votes on the 15 member countries and prevent one of the five permanent members from vetoing it.
Six countries, Russia, China, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan and Bolivia abstained
Ethiopian Ambassador Tekeda Alemu, whose country is at the forefront of regional peace efforts, opposed the embargo arguing that this might undermine diplomatic dealings.
Many of the countries that did not vote for the text claimed that the African Union and the regional IGAD group did not support punitive measures and called for allow time to observe the results of peace efforts. 659004] The document, which renews a general sanctions regime imposed on South Sudan, includes an annex providing for individual measures (freezing of assets, travel ban) for two South Sudanese soldiers accused of blocking a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Malek Reuben Riak, former Deputy Chief of Staff, and Paul Malong Awan, former Chief of Staff who became an opposition leader.
Sudan South gained independence from Sudan in 2011 with support from the United States. In recent months, Washington has been increasingly impatient with the management of President Salva Kiir. The country, which US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley visited in late 2017, went into the war in December 2013 when Kiir accused former Prime Minister Riek Machar of fomenting a coup. State
The conflict has left tens of thousands dead, nearly four million displaced and caused a major humanitarian crisis.
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