British charity calls for tougher action against S. Sudan rivals

September 26, 2014 (JUBA) – A British charity on Friday expressed disappointment with what it described as the reluctance of the United Nations and the international community to impose sanctions on the warring parties in the South Sudanese conflict.

Raymond Offenheiser, the president of Oxfam America, issued the statement in response to the UN General Assembly’s high-level ministerial event on South Sudan.

“The commitment shown by the members of the international community at the United Nations high-ministerial event for South Sudan is encouraging, but words are simply not enough,” Offenheiser said.

“The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is a devastating man-made disaster and getting worse each and every day. Nearly 10 months since the fighting started a lasting ceasefire remains elusive. The violence must end, and all parties to the conflict must agree to an enduring peace,” he added.

The official has questioned why world leaders and representatives at the general assembly avoided mentioning statements in relation to the arms embargo.

“To this end, more states should have mentioned an arms embargo. As long as arms continue to flow to warring parties in South Sudan, there will be no stop to the fighting,” said Offenheiser.

“A comprehensive UN Security Council arms embargo, led and supported by IGAD and the African Union, should be applied and a monitoring body and panel of experts established to monitor and report on the implementation of the embargo,” he added.

Peace talks mediated by East African regional bloc the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have been hampered by the continuous violation of ceasefire agreements, with mediators criticised for failing to amicably resolve the crisis.

(ST)