UN expected to vote on resolution to impose arms embargo on South Sudan
The United Nations Security Council meets at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. It has unanimously adopted new sanctions on North Korea, including restrictions on oil shipments. PHOTO | DREW ANGERER | AFP
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It remained unclear however whether the measure would be adopted, with diplomats saying that it fell short of the nine votes needed for adoption in the 15-member council, diplomats said.
The United States has argued that cutting off the arms flow was urgently needed following UN warnings that the country faced the risk of mass atrocities. Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Venezuela and more importantly the three African council members – Angola, Egypt and Senegal – have all expressed serious reservations. Japan, which has sent troops to the UN mission in South Sudan, has argued that imposing an arms embargo would antagonize President Salva Kiir’s government and put peacekeepers’ lives at risk.
NEW YORK CITY, Thursday
The UN Security Council is expected to vote on Friday on a US-drafted resolution to impose an arms embargo and sanctions on South Sudan, now in its fourth year of war.
It remained unclear however whether the measure would be adopted, with diplomats saying that it fell short of the nine votes needed for adoption in the 15-member council, diplomats said.
The United States has argued that cutting off the arms flow was urgently needed following UN warnings that the country faced the risk of mass atrocities. Russia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Venezuela and more importantly the three African council members – Angola, Egypt and Senegal – have all expressed serious reservations. Japan, which has sent troops to the UN mission in South Sudan, has argued that imposing an arms embargo would antagonize President Salva Kiir’s government and put peacekeepers’ lives at risk. The United States requested that a vote take place on Friday. Britain and France support the move. “It’s clearly the right thing to do to limit the number of weapons coming into a country which is awash with weapons,” said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.
“The warning signs of a potential slip towards genocide are there,” he said.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is backing the US call to ban arms deals with South Sudan, saying an embargo would reduce the capacity of all sides to wage war.
