How the Use of Targeted Sanctions Can Undermine Peace in South Sudan
HOW THE USE OF TARGETED SANCTIONS CAN UNDERMINE PEACE IN SOUTH SUDAN BY MATTHEW LERICHE UN PHOTO/LOEY FELIPE The misguided application of targeted sanctions in South the choice to propose further sanctions – only weeks after a Sudan will not support peace; rather, they have the potential peace agreement between the warring parties was resolved – to foster conflict.1 Nor are targeted sanctions the appropriate raises questions regarding these sanctions specifically, and forum to further justice. The following consideration of the the usefulness of targeted sanctions in supporting peace, use of targeted sanctions in the case of South Sudan’s current more generally. internal conflict (2013–2015) and peace process concludes that South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and rather than support peace, as the sanctions presented by the opposition leader Riek Machar (formerly vice president, United States (US), European Union (EU), Canada and, most recently, the United Nations (UN) Security Council purport, they are at best benign, and at worst, present a threat to Above: The United Nations Security Council unanimously sustainable peace. adopts Resolution 2206, imposing sanctions on On 8 September 2015, US, British and French individuals and entities deemed responsible for, or representatives at the UN Security Council circulated a complicit in, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan. The Resolution also proposal, under Resolution 2206, to add targeted sanctions on establishes a Sanctions Committee of the Council to a further two South Sudanese leaders they claim are obstacles monitor compliance, and requests the Secretary-General to peace. Even though Russian and Angolan representatives to create a Panel of Experts to assist the Committee voiced objection, forcing the deferral of the proposal,2 (3 March 2015).
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