UN Security Council renews sanctions against South Sudan
United Nations, May 30
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution to renew for a year, until May 31, 2027, an arms embargo against South Sudan as well as targeted sanctions of travel ban and asset freeze against individuals and entities.
Resolution 2821, adopted with nine votes in favor and six abstentions, also extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which assists the work of the South Sudan Sanctions Committee, until July 1, 2027.
The African members of the Security Council -- the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Somalia -- abstained, along with China, Pakistan and Russia.
To be adopted, a Security Council draft resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no veto from any of the council's five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
Drafted by the United States, the resolution is a straightforward renewal of the measures without substantive changes to the resolution adopted a year ago.
The resolution reiterates the Security Council's readiness to review arms embargo measures, through modification, suspension, or progressive lifting of these measures, in light of progress achieved on the key benchmarks as set out in Resolution 2577 of 2021, and encourages the South Sudan authorities to achieve further progress in this regard.
It requests the UN secretary-general, in close consultation with the UN Mission in South Sudan and the Panel of Experts, to conduct, no later than April 15, 2027, an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks. The resolution also requests the South Sudanese authorities to report, by the same date, to the Sanctions Committee on the progress achieved in this regard.
The resolution also states the decision to keep the targeted measures under continuous review and expresses the Security Council's readiness to consider adjusting the measures, through modifying, suspending, lifting or strengthening measures to respond to the situation, Xinhua news agency reported.
The UN sanctions regime against South Sudan, which includes asset freezes, travel bans, and a comprehensive arms embargo, was first established in March 2015.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I agree with Arjun but also see the other side. The US drafted this, so it's understandable why African nations abstained - they often feel these sanctions target without offering real solutions. India has always called for dialogue over sanctions. Let's hope the Panel of Experts finds real progress by April 2027. Bahut mushkil hai (It's very difficult). 🤔
The abstentions from DRC, Liberia, Somalia, China, Pakistan, and Russia show that the Global South is skeptical of these measures. We've seen such sanctions hurt ordinary people more than the elites. Remember how sanctions crippled Iraq? South Sudan needs economic development, not just arms embargoes. The UN should push for transparency in oil revenues and governance reforms. That's the real game-changer. 💪
Look at the benchmarks from 2021 - have they been met? The UN says they're 'ready to review' but where's the timeline? South Sudan's government must show progress on transitional justice and security sector reform. Otherwise, these sanctions will create more resentment than solutions. From India's perspective, we know that peace comes from within, not from Western-imposed measures. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Another resolution, another year of same old story. The African members abstained because they see this as a punitive measure that doesn't address the political crisis. I'm critical of the US for pushing this without substantial changes. The UN should also hold the regional powers accountable - Uganda, Sudan, others who fuel the conflict. Also, why no sanctions on oil companies that finance the war? Just saying. 🤨
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