Arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes extended for another year as the Security Council calls for further progress on key peace and security benchmarks in South Sudan…reports Africa Daily News Desk
The United Nations Security Council has renewed sanctions against South Sudan for another year, extending an arms embargo as well as targeted measures including travel bans and asset freezes on designated individuals and entities until May 31, 2027.
The Council adopted Resolution 2821 with nine votes in favour and six abstentions. The resolution also extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which supports the work of the South Sudan Sanctions Committee, until July 1, 2027.
The six abstentions came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Somalia, the three African members of the Security Council, along with China, Pakistan and Russia.
Under Security Council rules, a resolution requires at least nine votes in favour and no veto from any of the Council’s five permanent members, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, to be adopted.
Drafted by the United States, the resolution renews the existing sanctions regime without making substantive changes to the measures approved by the Council a year ago.
The resolution reiterates the Security Council’s willingness to review the arms embargo through modification, suspension or gradual lifting, depending on progress made by South Sudan in meeting key benchmarks outlined in Resolution 2577, adopted in 2021. It also encourages South Sudanese authorities to continue advancing efforts towards fulfilling those benchmarks.
The Council requested UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in consultation with the UN Mission in South Sudan and the Panel of Experts, to submit an assessment by April 15, 2027, on progress achieved against the benchmarks. South Sudan’s authorities have also been asked to report to the Sanctions Committee by the same date on developments made in implementing the required measures.
The resolution further states that the Security Council will keep the targeted sanctions under continuous review and remains prepared to modify, suspend, strengthen or lift the measures in response to developments on the ground.
The UN sanctions regime against South Sudan, which includes an arms embargo, travel restrictions and asset freezes, was first imposed in March 2015 amid concerns over ongoing conflict and instability in the country.
