India has abstained from a United Nations Security Council(UNSC) resolution that has extended sanctions against South Sudan.

The resolution was taken up last week by the Security Council and was drafted by the US.

India's deputy permanent representative to United Nations ambassador R Ravindra said, "the resolution&nbsp;that was voted upon falls short of expectations&nbsp;and continues to maintain the sanctions measures&nbsp;without giving due consideration to the positive strides made by South Sudan."

While ten nations&nbsp;supported the sanctions, five&nbsp;countries abstained. The countries who abstained were -&nbsp;China, India, Russia, Gabon and Kenya.

The sanctions include travel ban, assets freeze and arms embargo. The Indian diplomat explained&nbsp;"we strongly believe that South Sudan at this critical phase&nbsp;needs more constructive engagement and encouragement&nbsp;to move confidently in its pursuit of peace, stability, and development" and that the international community "needs to make all efforts to address the concerns repeatedly raised by South Sudan regarding the sanction measures"

The UNSC resolution extends the sanctions till May 31 next year.

According to African media reports, South Sudan has thanked the countries who have abstained during the voting.

Ambassador R Ravindra mentioned the "close and historic ties" New Delhi has with South Sudan and is "cognizant of the enormous challenges South Sudan is confronted with in its path towards peace and stability."

India has&nbsp;one of the largest Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the UN Mission in South Sudan with a peacekeeping contingent of around 2400 troops. He highlighted,"South Sudan is a young member state of the United Nations, which is emerging from ravages of civil war and faced with a multitude of challenges, political, security, and developmental. These are typical to any new independent nation, irrespective of the time, or place, in the globe."

South Sudan gained its independence in 2011. Lauding the efforts made by the country, ambassador R Ravindra said, "the security situation in the country is more stable, with less violence than before. There has been more inclusive political dialogue among all stakeholders" and the "constructive engagement of the international community, UN, AU and IGAD, with South Sudan has contributed to the situation."

Meanwhile, India supported sanctions against North Korea last week after the reclusive state tested more ballistic missiles. But the sanctions, led by the US could not be passed&nbsp;as Russia and China vetoed them. The sanctions divided the 15-member council into&nbsp;13 in favour with two&nbsp;vetoes.

India has abstained from a United Nations Security Council(UNSC) resolution that has extended sanctions against South Sudan. The resolution was taken up last week by the Security Council and was drafted by the US.

India has abstained from a United Nations Security Council(UNSC) resolution that has extended sanctions against South Sudan. The resolution was taken up last week by the Security Council and was drafted by the US. India's deputy permanent representative to United Nations ambassador R Ravindra said, "the resolution that was voted upon falls short of expectations and continues to maintain the sanctions measures without giving due consideration to the positive strides made by South Sudan." While ten nations supported the sanctions, five countries abstained. The countries who abstained were - China, India, Russia, Gabon and Kenya. The sanctions include travel ban, assets freeze and arms embargo. The Indian diplomat explained "we strongly believe that South Sudan at this critical phase needs more constructive engagement and encouragement to move confidently in its pursuit of peace, stability, and development" and that the international community "needs to make all efforts to address the concerns repeatedly raised by South Sudan regarding the sanction measures" The UNSC resolution extends the sanctions till May 31 next year. According to African media reports, South Sudan has thanked the countries who have abstained during the voting. Ambassador R Ravindra mentioned the "close and historic ties" New Delhi has with South Sudan and is "cognizant of the enormous challenges South Sudan is confronted with in its path towards peace and stability." India has one of the largest Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the UN Mission in South Sudan with a peacekeeping contingent of around 2400 troops. He highlighted,"South Sudan is a young member state of the United Nations, which is emerging from ravages of civil war and faced with a multitude of challenges, political, security, and developmental. These are typical to any new independent nation, irrespective of the time, or place, in the globe." South Sudan gained its independence in 2011. Lauding the efforts made by the country, ambassador R Ravindra said, "the security situation in the country is more stable, with less violence than before. There has been more inclusive political dialogue among all stakeholders" and the "constructive engagement of the international community, UN, AU and IGAD, with South Sudan has contributed to the situation." Meanwhile, India supported sanctions against North Korea last week after the reclusive state tested more ballistic missiles. But the sanctions, led by the US could not be passed as Russia and China vetoed them. The sanctions divided the 15-member council into 13 in favour with two vetoes.

At UNSC, India abstains from sanctions being extended to South Sudan

The United States circulated on Thursday to the 15-member United Nations Security Council a draft resolution to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan and further targeted sanctions amid warnings by a senior UN&nbsp;official of possible genocide.

Political rivalry between South Sudan&#39;s President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his former deputy Riek Machar, a Nuer, led to civil war in 2013 that has often followed ethnic lines. The pair signed a shaky peace deal last year, but fighting has continued and Machar fled the country in July.

Adama Dieng, UN special adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, last week visited South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

&quot;I saw all the signs that ethnic hatred and targeting of civilians could evolve into genocide if something is not done now to stop it. I urge the Security Council and member states of the region to be united and to take action,&quot; Dieng told the council.

&quot;There is a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines with a potential for genocide. I do not say that lightly,&quot; he said, urging the council to impose an arms embargo.

Samantha Power, US&nbsp;ambassador to the United Nations, told the council that Dieng&#39;s warning should serve as a wake-up call. &quot;None of us can say we did not see it coming,&quot; Power said.

The UN&nbsp;Security Council has long-threatened to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan, but veto powers Russia and China are skeptical whether such a move would make a difference as the country is already awash with weapons.

&quot;We think that implementing such a recommendation would hardly be helpful in settling the conflict,&quot; Deputy Russian UN ambassador Petr Iliichev said. &quot;Introducing targeted sanctions against South Sudanese leaders would be the height of irresponsibility now.&quot;

China also voiced its opposition to embargoes.

&quot;As a matter of principle, China&#39;s position is that it consistently does not agree with the use of or threat of sanctions,&quot; said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing on Friday.

&quot;On the issue of South Sudan, the United Nation&#39;s actions should send the right signal, encourage both parties to reach an agreement and respect the ceasefire, to move the situation towards stability rather than further complicating matters,&quot; he said.

The Security Council set up a targeted sanctions regime for South Sudan in March 2015 and has blacklisted six generals - three from each side of the conflict - by subjecting them to an asset freeze and travel ban.

&quot;An arms embargo is effective if there is a broad and robust commitment to its enforcement,&quot; Power told the council.

&quot;Imposing new targeted sanctions designations will isolate the individuals who have consistently been responsible for the acts that have brought South Sudan to this moment and which have caused so much suffering,&quot; Power said.

South Sudanese soldiers and rebels said on Thursday they had clashed in a state bordering Sudan, killing at least 15 people.

(Reuters)

US special adviser to UN told the council that there is a 'strong risk the ethnic violence in South Sudan may escalate to genocide'

The United States circulated on Thursday to the 15-member United Nations Security Council a draft resolution to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan and further targeted sanctions amid warnings by a senior UN official of possible genocide. Political rivalry between South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his former deputy Riek Machar, a Nuer, led to civil war in 2013 that has often followed ethnic lines. The pair signed a shaky peace deal last year, but fighting has continued and Machar fled the country in July. Adama Dieng, UN special adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, last week visited South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011. "I saw all the signs that ethnic hatred and targeting of civilians could evolve into genocide if something is not done now to stop it. I urge the Security Council and member states of the region to be united and to take action," Dieng told the council. "There is a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines with a potential for genocide. I do not say that lightly," he said, urging the council to impose an arms embargo. Samantha Power, US ambassador to the United Nations, told the council that Dieng's warning should serve as a wake-up call. "None of us can say we did not see it coming," Power said. The UN Security Council has long-threatened to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan, but veto powers Russia and China are skeptical whether such a move would make a difference as the country is already awash with weapons. "We think that implementing such a recommendation would hardly be helpful in settling the conflict," Deputy Russian UN ambassador Petr Iliichev said. "Introducing targeted sanctions against South Sudanese leaders would be the height of irresponsibility now." China also voiced its opposition to embargoes. "As a matter of principle, China's position is that it consistently does not agree with the use of or threat of sanctions," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing on Friday. "On the issue of South Sudan, the United Nation's actions should send the right signal, encourage both parties to reach an agreement and respect the ceasefire, to move the situation towards stability rather than further complicating matters," he said. The Security Council set up a targeted sanctions regime for South Sudan in March 2015 and has blacklisted six generals - three from each side of the conflict - by subjecting them to an asset freeze and travel ban. "An arms embargo is effective if there is a broad and robust commitment to its enforcement," Power told the council. "Imposing new targeted sanctions designations will isolate the individuals who have consistently been responsible for the acts that have brought South Sudan to this moment and which have caused so much suffering," Power said. South Sudanese soldiers and rebels said on Thursday they had clashed in a state bordering Sudan, killing at least 15 people. (Reuters)

US seeks to impose UN arms embargo on South Sudan

south-sudan-arms-embargo

South Sudan Arms Embargo, News on South Sudan Arms Embargo, stories on South Sudan Arms Embargo, articles on South Sudan Arms Embargo, South Sudan Arms Embargo stories at Wion, South Sudan Arms Embargo news, South Sudan Arms Embargo latest news

south sudan-arms-embargo

At UNSC, India abstains from sanctions being extended to South Sudan

US seeks to impose UN arms embargo on South Sudan