Over 30 South Sudanese and international organizations have called on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to impose an immediate and comprehensive arms embargo on South Sudan to prevent further atrocities.
The organizations said that IGAD should also request that the United Nations Security Council imposes a worldwide ban on weapons sales to the young country.
“An arms embargo is urgently needed to halt the supply of weapons to individuals and groups on all sides who have committed gross violations of human rights, war crimes and crimes against humanity and to protect civilians at grave risk,” read a press release accompanying the petition to IGAD.
A Security Council embargo would make it illegal for foreign countries or corporations to sell or supply weapons or ammunition to any parties in South Sudan.
The petition, available for download below, says that “both sides in this conflict have used small arms and light weapons to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,” including killing women and children.
“As long as these weapons are imported into South Sudan, they are likely to be used to commit further atrocities,” the petition said.
The petition was presented to IGAD because the UN and the African Union are following the regional bloc’s lead regarding policy on South Sudan.
In late July, the UN Security Council said it was alarmed by reports that belligerents were stockpiling arms for a renewed dry season offensive.
Earlier that month, China sold at least 38 million dollars’ worth of weapons and ammunition to the SPLA-Juba loyal to Salva Kiir. There is also evidence that Sudan supplied ammunition to the rebels.
A leading member of the US legislature has also called for an arms embargo on South Sudan. The European Union already bans weapons sales to both Sudan and South Sudan.
At a Nairobi conference in August on the topic of arms proliferation in South Sudan, weapons tracking experts noted that Khartoum may be supplying arms to both sides in South Sudan.
The experts also said that weapons in South Sudan may be making their way to conflicts in Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Related:
US Congress leader demands arms ban on South Sudan
UN Security Council: S. Sudan arms stockpiling ‘deeply alarming’
Evidence suggests foreign groups armed S. Sudan rebels
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