Kenya backs removal of sanctions, an arms embargo against South Sudan

The government of Kenya has reiterated its commitment to support the peace process in South Sudan by backing a motion to remove the arms embargo and targeted sanctions choking Africa’s youngest nation.

Asked about the position of Kenya on the removal of sanctions and arms embargo against South Sudan during an interview with Citizen TV, Amb. Martin Kimani (pictured) – Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said:

“We think so too. We think so too. South Sudan has gone through a very rough patch and Kenya and the region has been very responsive.”

The senior diplomat said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been at the forefront to contribute to the political progress in South Sudan.

“President Kenyatta from just my last count. I think had at least 12 Summits where he met other heads of state and government over this issue,” Mr. Kimani said in reference to the sanctions and arms embargo.

“He was on the front countless times. He was fighting to release political prisoners there to forge talks, engaging his leaders. So Kenya has been in it, you know.”

Kimani commended the parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan saying they have been progressive though sluggish.

“And we think that they’re doing much better than they were. They formed a government, the two conflicting sides and they’re making steps, not very fast but clear steps of improvement,” he said. “So when the Mandate of their sanctions came up for renewal we were in the council. This was just a couple of months ago.”

Kimani also said Kenya stood against the motion to renew arms embargo on South Sudan in May this year by abstaining from the vote which other countries, except India, only abstained from.

“And the other countries, the majority of other countries said let’s renew the sanctions. We fought that, then there were about 10 categories of sanctions. Kenya reduced them to five.

“We fought for them to take 50% off which they did, we then fought for the other five for that to be language in that renewal that would open the path for them being lifted. Then after that, after that we had to vote. We had to vote for the sanctions renewal and Kenya abstained from that vote together with India. All the other countries voted for that extension,” he said.

But the diplomat said the tennis is always in the court of South Sudanese politicians to play their card to the path of peace and progress.

“So I think Kenya made a strong statement. We made it easy on South Sudan and the next time around we want the sanctions lifted and that’s a position of the African Union. It’s a position of IGAD and I think we will succeed,” he said.

“Of course, the South Sudanese have work to do, they’ve got to make progress, they’ve got to hit their benchmarks,” he added.

However, Juba has been at crossroads with Nairobi recently. After denouncing the sanctions against South Sudan, Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro, the South Sudanese Minister of Cabinet Affairs, was sanctioned by the Kenya Assets Recovery Agency.

Lomoro called out the government of Kenya for “secretly” supporting what he called “American sanctions” against erstwhile loyalists of President Salva Kiir.

In an interview with Kenya’s Citizen TV in June, President Salva Kiir stated unequivocally that he was unhappy with Uhuru whom he accused of hosting leaders of rebellions seeking to destabilize South Sudan.