UN Security Council pressed to extend arms embargo on South Sudan
As unrestricted access to arms would only escalate the current violence in the nation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) was asked by Amnesty International on Wednesday to extend its arms embargo against South Sudan. The embargo is one of several measures that have been in effect since 2015 as a result of violations of human rights committed during the civil conflict. According to reports from the UN, the African Union (AU), and Amnesty International, among others, both sides of the conflict have been linked to extensive violations of human rights and war crimes.
Despite a coalition government ending the civil conflict in 2020, ongoing clashes and heightened tensions since March have heightened concerns of escalation. On May 29, the UNSC will consider renewing the embargo, which has been in effect since 2015.
Supported by the three African UNSC members—Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Algeria—the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) has demanded that the embargo be lifted, pointing to the necessity of bringing the competing groups together and reforming South Sudan’s security sector. Amnesty International, however, denounced this position and cautioned about the current political unrest in South Sudan. Amnesty International added that lifting the ban would go against the African Union’s Agenda 2063 pledge to put an end to all wars on the continent by 2030.
Amnesty International further emphasized how crucial it is that the embargo be rigorously enforced. Amnesty blamed Uganda for infringing the prohibition and international regulation in March by dispatching troops and arms to South Sudan without council authorization.
“The the UNSC and the AU must guarantee stricter regulations on arms imports and ensure effective enforcement of these measures for Agenda 2063 to succeed realized,”
Amnesty said.
As long as none of the five permanent members reject the resolution, the UNSC is the only UN body with the authority to adopt resolutions that are legally obligatory on member states and require the support of nine of the fifteen members. Therefore, in order to succeed, the three African governments demanding an end to the embargo would require strong backing from the other member states.
The UNSC regularly assembles conferences, including private meetings, to examine the political, protection, and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. These meetings feature briefings by UN officials such as the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa and representatives from humanitarian agencies, providing updates on conflict dynamics, humanitarian access, and mediation efforts.
The Council recognizes the destabilizing impact of the Sudan conflict on the wider region, including refugee flows to neighboring countries. It supports coordination among international organizations and regional actors to enhance peace efforts, as reflected in high-level meetings involving the UN Secretary-General and regional officials.
