Washington/Juba - The United States has
imposed sanctions on two senior South Sudanese officials it
accuses of fomenting conflict, the US Treasury Department said
on Monday, in its latest move to pressure the country's
politicians to form a unity government.
Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Elia Lomuro and Minister
of Defense and Veteran Affairs Kuol Manyang Juuk were
blacklisted for their role in perpetuating the conflict by
obstructing the peace process, the Treasury said in a statement.
Civil war broke out in South Sudan in 2013, less than two
years after the country gained independence from Sudan. The
conflict has killed an estimated 400,000 people and forced
millions from their homes.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and opposition leader
Riek Machar signed a peace deal in 2018 to form a unity
government by Nov. 12 this year, under pressure from the United
Nations, the United States and regional governments.
Days before the deadline, the leaders agreed to an extension
of 100 days, prompting Washington to recall its ambassador to
the African country.
The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets held by the officials
and prohibit Americans from doing business with them.
The US Treasury accused Lomuro of recruiting and
organizing militias to attack opposition forces, and Juuk of
failing to remove forces from the battlefield as agreed,
stirring up violence with rival tribes and preparing militias
for the possibility of renewed violence.
Deng Dau Deng, South Sudan's deputy foreign affairs
minister, defended the two officials and said Washington should
resume bilateral relations to help with the peace process.
"These are not sanctions against individuals but sanctions
against the whole country," Dau Deng told Reuters.
Deputy US Treasury Secretary Justin Muzinich said the
cabinet officials were targeted for "their role in inhibiting
political unification, expanding the conflict, and profiting
from South Sudan's war economy".
In prepared remarks seen by Reuters to a Partnership to
Combat Human Rights Abuse and Corruption meeting, Muzinich said
non-governmental organizations had provided documented findings
supporting the designations.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week threatened
visa restrictions on anyone who endangers the peace process in
South Sudan and said on Monday that Washington could take
further action.
"The United States stands ready to impose other measures
against any who seek to expand the conflict and derail peace
efforts in South Sudan," Pompeo said in a statement.