S. Sudan urges US leader to reconsider looming sanctions

December 5, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, has sent a special message to US president Barrack Obama, pleading with the American government and its western allies not to turn their backs on his administration, his office said Friday.

A presidential aide told Sudan Tribune on Friday that the letter was delivered to Obama by a high-level delegation, including foreign minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, already in the United States to meet with the US secretary of state and members of congress, as well as members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), over further sanctions being considered against the young nation.

“Sanctions are not the best solutions. They complicate and undermine progress. Because of this, the president thought it was wise to dialogue with the government of [the] United States and those who are concerned and have interest in South Sudan,” the aide said.

Benjamin, who travelled to the US last weekend, is accompanied by minister for education John Goi Yoh, minister for water resources and irrigation Jemma Nunu Kumba and minister in the office of the president Awan Guol Riak, as well as several other officials.

The visit comes as the UNSC mulls a draft resolution from the US that would authorise further sanctions against individuals who threaten South Sudan’s peace and security.

The US, European Union and Canada have already frozen the assets of and imposed a travel ban on individual government and rebel officials deemed to be hampering peace efforts in the country.

Benjamin said the president is appealing to Obama to stand with South Sudan and help support efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement to the current crisis.

“The content of the letter is a request of the president to his American counterpart to help the country in resolving the conflict through peaceful settlement, which the government is doing,” he said.

“He (Kiir) is asking the American government and its people not to turn their backs against the government and the people of South Sudan after having been with us throughout the struggle. We understand their concerns and frustration but sanctions are not the best [option],” he added.

In a separate interview with Sudan Tribune from Washington on Friday, Benjamin said that the delegation looks forwards to meeting with senior US and UN officials to share the government’s views on how the country can move forward.

“The president is very concerned about reports of sanctions. So we have come with the letter of special message to president Obama and to meet with senior officials of his administration, especially the secretary of state and members of the congress. We have come to listen to them so that we understand what their concerns are and for them to be able to listen to us so that share our views on the way forward,” the minister said.

“We think that sanctions are not the best options, especially that peace talks are now moving forward. Sanctions harden positions and close rooms for constructive engagement,” he added.

The South Sudanese government and rebel forces have been engaged in an armed struggle since mid-December last after a political dispute in ruling party (SPLM) turned violent, reigniting tribal tensions and plunging the nation to the brink of civil war.

Human rights groups say they have documented grave abuses and atrocities by both sides.

Peace talks between the warring parties have been hampered by ongoing delays and disagreements, with the international community becoming increasingly frustrated over the lack of progress.

Multiple ceasefire agreements brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is mediating peace talks between the warring parties, have also failed to halt the violence.

More than 1.8 million have been displaced by the conflict, with tens of thousands still sheltering at various UN sites across the country in an effort to escape the violence.

(ST)