Hundreds of protesters massed inside the UN camp in Juba on Friday, chanting slogans supporting an arms embargo imposed by the United States against South Sudan.
The protesters held banners supporting the ongoing peace negotiations in Addis Ababa and chanted “Yes for arms embargo against South Sudan”.
Jeremiah Gai, a community leader living in the UN PoC3, told Radio Tamazuj today that the protesters support the decision taken by the Trump administration to impose an arms embargo against South Sudan to put pressure on South Sudan leaders to bring about peace in the country.
“Peace must come and war must stop in the Republic of South Sudan. We also call for the release of Dr. Riek Machar Teny,” he said.
Meanwhile, Juma Alahjabu Manyiel said: “We want peace to come and we support the arms embargo against South Sudan.”
“We need food and medicines instead of squandering money on weapons,” he added.
Chief Akol Arol Akot called on South Sudanese leaders to make peace in the country.” Enough is enough. We need peace in our country,” he said.
Nyamer Gatwech, a South Sudanese woman living in the UN camp, said they are tired of war in South Sudan. She urged the country’s leadership to negotiate seriously to bring about peace in the country.
The United States banned the export of weapons and defense services to South Sudan recently, in a bid to press President Salva Kiir to end a four-year-old civil war.