Western powers behind instability – NSS officials

The instability in South Sudan and other African countries is being funded by Western powers, National Security Service bosses have said,

Minister of National Security Gen. Isaac Obote Mamur Mete said South Sudan and other African countries have been made the targets of western malicious sanctions which have catapulted underdevelopment and instability.

“I need this meeting to be our cornerstone in our lives in Africa because the situation we are in, of war, sanctions, it is only in Africa not anywhere,” he said.

“And it emanated from all of us, not from anywhere. We have been used throughout our ages against our own interest,” said Mamur.

The minister made the remarks last week at the opening session of a three-day meeting to discuss the impact of sanctions on the socio-economic, peace, security and political situation in the East African region.

Speaking at the same event, Gen. Simon Yien Makuach, the Director-General for National Security Service External Bureaus said sanctions have caused enormous suffering to South Sudanese.

Makuach said the west continues to use sanctions to advance their interests to the disadvantage of Africans and South Sudanese in particular.    

“Sanctions are growing as a foreign tool and political instruments of the western powers to advance their strategic interest whereas their popularity is growing, the efficacy along with moral obligation have caused substantial suffering to many vulnerable groups across the globe,” said Yien.

The two national security officials echoed a sentiment by Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs who said America was using sanctions to target erstwhile loyalists of President Salva Kiir.

Lobong made the statement after a Kenyan government parastatal, the Kenyan Assets Recovery Agency, froze his account on the grounds of suspicious financial transactions.

On May 27, the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 2577 (2021) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter by a vote of 13 in favour of none against with only Kenya and India abstained.

According to the Council, the renewed arms embargo and individual targeted travel ban and assets freeze will be expected to end till May 31, 2022 if South Sudan witnesses positive progress on peace implementation and reduction in the rate of violence.