The Secretary-General of the United Nations met with the leaders of Rwanda and Ethiopia yesterday, telling them that he recommends an arms embargo on South Sudan and targeted sanctions.

Targeted sanctions would seize the foreign assets and block foreign travel of South Sudanese leaders deemed responsible for violence.

Yesterday’s meeting between Ban Ki-moon and Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of Ethopia, touched on the role of Ethiopian peacekeepers as well as Ethiopia’s role in IGAD. 

“The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister… agreed on the need for an urgent and enhanced international action to avert full blown violence and further atrocities, and put back on track the implementation process of the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan,” the spokesman of the UN leader said.

“The Secretary-General informed the Prime Minister about his recommendations to the Security Council in favour of an arms embargo, the imposition of targeted sanctions against individuals involved in violence and blocking the implementation of the peace agreement, and the reinforcement of the UN Mission in South Sudan,” he added. 

Ban made similar remarks in a meeting with Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, according to his spokesman.

Kagame and Ban “expressed deep concern at the recent escalation of violence in South Sudan, its impact on the civilian population and consequences for the peace process,” the statement says. 

Rwanda is a member of the African Union High-Level ad hoc Committee on South Sudan, and host of the ongoing AU summit.

Ban and Kigame also discussed “strengthening the capacity of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).” Rwanda is a troop-contributing country to several peacekeeping missions.

“The Secretary-General indicated that he was looking forward to the outcome of the deliberations of the IGAD and African Union Heads of State and Government, emphasizing the important role of the African leaders,” his spokesman said.