US imposes sanctions on South Sudan’s oil entities

Washington, DC/Juba, March 21, 2018 (SSNA) — The government of the United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on South Sudan’s entities it says use state resources to fuel the ongoing civil war.

The move comes as South Sudanese warring factions prepare for peace revitalization talks planned to resume in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa next week.

“By placing these entities on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List, the United States will impose a license requirement on all exports, re-exports, and transfers of any U.S.-origin items to those entities,” US State Department said in a statement.

US State Department said it will publish the name tomorrow (Thursday).

However, in a document scheduled to be published tomorrow, the US Bureau of Industry and Security revealed that Ascom Sudd Operating Company, Dar Petroleum Operating company, DietsmannNile, Greater Pioneer Operating Co. Ltd, Juba Petrotech Technical Services Ltd, Nile Delta Petroleum Company, Nile Drilling and Services Company; Nile Petroleum Corporation, Nyakek and Sons, Oranto Petroleum, Safinat Group, SIPET Engineering and Consultancy Services, South Sudan Ministry of Mining, South Sudan Ministry of Petroleum, and Sudd Petroleum Operating Co are the firms  on the sanction list. The US described these companies as “government, parastatal and private entities” that involved in activities that are contrary to the United States foreign policy interests.

Early last month, the United States imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan, placing restrictions on the export of defense articles and defense services into the young nation.