S. Sudan’s president says sanctions will escalate war
March 16, 2015 (JUBA) – Threats by the United Nations to impose sanctions on South Sudanese leaders could further escalate the country’s conflict, president Salva Kiir has warned.
The South Sudanese leader was speaking at a political function at which he briefed members of his government on the outcome of the last round of talks with the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.
He also questioned the ability of the UN and the African Union to take over the leadership of the country, reiterating that he would not accept any attempt to reward rebels with positions in government and the party to avoid setting a bad precedent.
NOT POWER HUNGRY
The president claimed he was not interested in power, but only wanted to respect the choice of the people of South Sudan who overwhelmingly voted him in the country’s 2010 general elections.
“I did not kill anybody to become the president nor did I impose myself. People voted for me to become their president. I am not power hungry and not interested in power acquired through killing and destruction. Many people among you know that”, he stressed.
SUCCESSFUL REGIONAL TOUR
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s foreign minister said regional tours conducted in the wake of threats by United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions was successful.
“I think we are successful, we are being understood now these sanctions are senseless they don’t make meaning at all,” Barnaba Marial Benjamin said Monday.
“Why do you need a sanction at the same time you are saying that there is a humanitarian disaster in South Sudan and at the same time you can enforce sanctions you will make the situation worse because the ordinary people will suffer”, he added.
According to Marial, what South Sudan needed now is to go through a peace process.
“It is to help, but not to punish,” stressed the foreign affairs minister.
The UNSC formed a committee early this month to list individuals whose assets could be frozen and a travel ban imposed on them for allegedly obstructing the peace talks.
Marial, however, insists South Sudan does not need punishment for not ending the 15-months old conflict that killed thousands of people and displaced nearly two million others.
“We always say this and I think the international community has got this clear,” he said.
The minister visited Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda as well as some Southern Africa countries.
(ST)