Salva Kiir directs to pay UN arrears to regain voting rights

January 20, 2023 (JUBA)- President Salva Kiir on Friday ordered to pay arrears to the United Nations after the world body’s decision to suspend South Sudan’s right to vote in the United Nations General Assembly.

As of 17 January 2023, six member States of the United Nations including South Sudan lost their right to vote for not meeting minimum contributions, according to a statement released by the UN secretary-general on Thursday.

South Sudan’s Presidential Affairs Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin told Sudan Tribune on Friday that President Kiir directed the ministry of finance to pay the arrears which have not been paid to the United Nations on time.

“This is unfortunate but the good news is that his Excellency President General  Salva Kiir Mayardit has directed the minister of finance and economic planning to look into that. You know the situation of our economy but we are also aware of our obligations,” Benjamin said minister when asked to comment on the matter.

According to the UN Secretary General’s letter seen by Sudan Tribune, the minimum payment needed to restore voting rights is $196,130 for South Sudan.

Under Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations, a Member State in arrears in the payment of its dues in an amount that equals or exceeds the contributions due for two preceding years can lose its vote in the General Assembly.

Lebanon, Venezuela, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon are among six nations that have lost their right to vote in the General Assembly.

The United Nations, however, exempted three other countries – Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, and Somalia – saying would be permitted to vote in the Assembly until the end of its seventy-seventh session.

“An exception is allowed if the Member State can show that conditions beyond its control contributed to this inability to pay,” read the statement.

(ST)