A UN panel of expert announced that South Sudanese president Salva Kiir and the armed opposition (SPLM-IO) leader Riek Machar are both eligible for sanctions since their army targeted civilians, breaking international laws. The U.N. Security Council panel confidential report also called to have their financial assets frozen and restrict them from travelling outside of their country.
BT reported that the UN also called for an arms embargo in the nation since tens of thousands of people have been killed since the war started in December 2013. The country may be rich in oil, but it is under economic turmoil. The UN panel found out that the nation is riddled with torture, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and child soldiers recruitment, which are done with impunity despite Kiir and Machar signing a peace deal in August.
In a report by the Foreign Policy, the five-member panel wrote that, "There is clear and convincing evidence that the majority of acts committed in the course of the war, including the targeting of civilians and violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, have been directed by or undertaken with the knowledge of senior individuals in the highest level of government and within the opposition."
Sudan Tribune wrote that the 20-month-old civil war that has spread across the Upper Nile, Unity, Jonglei states, and Western Equatoria is now reduced by the UN as a tribal war between two parties fighting for political gains. The armed opposition group received arms and ammunition from Sudan during the height of the war.
Enough Project's John Prendergast, said, "It is critical that the Experts Group established command and control responsibility for mass atrocities all the way to the very top of both the government and rebel militaries."
The UN Security Council argues that the leaders of both sides should be held accountable. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged on Monday the African Union to help South Sudan establish a transitional government with national unity, which is a key step to peace.
