Statement by Ambassador Samantha Power
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
on Targeted Sanctions for South Sudan, May 6, 2014
05/06/2014 03:08 PM EDT
Today, the United States announced targeted sanctions on two South Sudanese whose actions, including the targeting of civilians and fomenting ethnic violence, are contributing to the mounting humanitarian and human rights catastrophe unfolding in South Sudan.
The measures taken against Marial Chanuong and Peter Gadet are only a first step and should serve as a clear warning to those in the Government of South Sudan and those who have taken up arms against it: the United States is determined to hold accountable those who choose violence. To that end, we will also seek in the United Nations Security Council to authorize targeted sanctions against those who continue to undermine South Sudan’s stability.
President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar have agreed to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for face-to-face talks. We strongly urge both leaders to live up to this commitment to meet and to implement the Cessation of Hostilities agreement they signed on January 23.
South Sudan’s crisis has led to tens of thousands of deaths, driven over 1.2 million people from their homes, and brought the country to the brink of famine. It is long past time for South Sudan’s political and military leaders to set aside their political and economic self-interests and begin to address the dire needs of their people.