Obama urged to support arms embargo on S. Sudan

January 9, 2015 (JUBA) – The United States President, Barack Obama should call for and support a comprehensive United Nations arms embargo on the parties to South Sudan’s brutal conflict, 29 human rights, humanitarian and other groups said in a letter to the former.

Thousand of people have been killed and about 1.8 million displaced since violence broke out a year ago. Disputes within the ruling party triggered the conflict, targeting people on ethnicity or perceived political allegiances.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) says over 100,000 civilians are still living inside its protection of civilian camps across the country.

“More weapons will mean more fuel to the fire, more attacks on civilians, arbitrary killings, rape, burnings and pillage,” said Geoffrey Duke, a team leader at South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms (SSANSA).

“President Obama should do everything he can to ensure that this year is not a repeat of the horrific last year for South Sudanese. Now is the time to take action,” he added.

The various entities, in their letter, expressed concerns that further crimes under international law and serious human rights violations and abuses are likely to continue should the conflict rage on.

The US is reportedly responsible for drafting resolutions and statements on South Sudan at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC).

In July last year, Amnesty International urged the UNSC to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on South Sudan, after reports emerged that its warring parties were involved in proliferation of Chinese small arms and ammunition.

The campaign group said it had confirmed that China supplied a further 1,000 tonnes of small arms and light weapons worth $38 million to the war-hit country.

(ST).