S. Sudan activists call for sanctions on rival leaders

August 7, 2014 (JUBA) – The leader of South Sudan’s civil society alliance, Deng Athuai has demanded that assets and bank accounts of the country’s rival leaders be blocked for allegedly causing massive loses to the new nation.

Athuai, who is still recovering from a gunshot sustained during last week’s attack, urged the region and the international community to take immediate actions on these leaders to save the nation from possible collapse.

The activist was specifically referring to South Sudanese leaders who send their children abroad rather, depriving other citizens of resources that would have otherwise been used to develop the nation.

“My message to the regional leaders and the international community remains the same that they should continue to help our people in the search to bring peace. They need to exert a lot of efforts at this critical time in the history of our country so that this suffering comes to an end. Our people need practical steps,” Athuai told Sudan Tribune Thursday.

The activist further said peace and stability will not be achieved through appeals, insisting sanctions be imposed on leaders blocking the peace process.

“If the international community really wants to help our people, if they want to stop the danger of famine, they should take strong and practical measures by imposing strong sanctions,” he said, stressing calls for freezing of asset and bank accounts of those implicated.

Meanwhile, a coalition of South Sudanese women groups on Wednesday convened a press conference in Juba to demand that the rival leaders of warring parties reach a deal.

“As mothers, we are calling for immediate stoppage of war so that our children go back to school. We are calling for immediate stop of this violence conflict so that the internally displaced persons can return to their homes and live dignified live,” said the group, in a petition presented to the national assembly speaker, Magok Rundial.

“We are calling for peace so that those who fled the country to neigbouring countries can return. We want this war to be stopped so that all south Sudanese can regain their identity and dignity. This conflict has brought us big shame and humiliation in the eyes of the international community. It must be stopped now,” adds the petition.

This was the second protest by women groups after last month event, in which over 100 of them demanded for immediate resolution of the conflict, described as destructive to civilians’ lives and properties.

(ST)