New York, September 15, 2015 (SSNA) — The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) latest attempt to impose sanctions on South Sudan’s rival military Generals was on Tuesday blocked by Russia and Angola. Russia claims that the punitive measures could further worsens the situation, the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) has learned.
A source at the UN also said Venezuela opposes the proposed sanctions.
On Monday, US-backed proposal was tabled for UNSC vote, allowing each nation of the 15-member Council to either accept or reject the proposal by 3:00PM, Eastern Time (US).
The bid is intended to target South Sudan’s army Chief Paul Malong Awan and rebel General Johnson Olony.
Russian Ambassador to UN Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin appears not happy with US’s wilingness to impose sanctions on the violence-ravaged nation, adding that Russian Federation recently signed a joint communique with South Sudan and Sudan and that the deal included opposition to sanctions.
"We think we need to take that into account. The United States, very often they just say ‘sanctions, sanctions, sanctions’ and in some cases it severely aggravates the situation,” Churkin told reporters.
In recent weeks, reports suggest that South Sudan’s government has been lobbying Russia to block any UN move that could result in sanctions against the young nation.
Fighting broke out in December of 2013 between different units of presidential guards after months of political turmoil among senior leaders of the SPLM. South Sudanese President says his main-rival, Dr. Riek Machar, planned a coup. Machar denies the allegation saying Kiir premeditated the coup in an attempt to try to get rid of his political rivals.