The head of UN peacekeeping, Hervé Ladsous, called on the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on the government and opposition of South Sudan.
Speaking the day before the 4th anniversary of the formation of the country, Mr Ladsous told reporters the situation on the ground was “absolutely appalling.”
Last week, the Security Council imposed sanctions against those disrupting the political process, with travel bans and asset freezes on three generals loyal to President Salva Kiir and three from his political rival Riek Machar’s opposition camp.
“What really should be looked at is the possibility of more sanctions towards more leaders,” he said. “I do think that there should be a decision about an arms embargo, because it is really completely questionable that the very meager resources that the country has go into buying more weapons.”
The United States, China and Russia have all previously resisted the idea of an embargo, Voice of America reported.
Samantha Power, the United States' U.N. ambassador, told VOA that the situation in South Sudan was the result of “the complete and utter failure of political leadership” by the government and the opposition. She said the situation was an “outrage” and was “going in the wrong direction.”
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