Security Council Imposes Arms Embargo on South Sudan

Ababa July 14/2018 The United Nations Security Council has imposed an arms embargo on South Sudanese warring parties that will remain in effect until 31 May next year. The Security Council yesterday narrowly passed the measure that aimed at stopping the flow of weapons to armed groups in that country in the world’s youngest country. The Council adopted the resolution by a vote of nine in favor and none against, with six abstentions. Members that are in favor claim that the embargo would protect civilians, while abstainers voiced concerns that it would undermine the ongoing peace process. Côte d’Ivoire, France, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and United States were in favor, while Bolivia, China, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan and Russia abstained. The representatives of Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea expressed concerns that further punitive measures could undermine the fragile, ongoing peace process in South Sudan. The Council obliged all UN member states to immediately take necessary measures regarding the arms embargo. Under the terms of the resolution, all Member States must prevent arms and related equipment of all types from entering South Sudan. The Council also renewed the South Sudan Sanctions regime until 31 May 2019 and the Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts until 1 July 2019. The Council also imposed a travel ban and asset freeze against two more individuals accused of fomenting violence, during the conflict. In 2016, the United States, a Permanent Member of the Council, proposed arms embargo, but failed to get enough support for it to pass.