UN Security Council President Joy Ogwu has urged President Salva Kiir to drop his reservations to the IGAD peace deal that he signed reluctantly on Wednesday, disclosing that the Security Council will meet next week to discuss again the possibility of sanctions.
The South Sudanese president listed several objections to the deal before signing it, implying that he did so only under pressure from regional and international powers. “The current peace we are signing today has so many things we have to reject,” Kiir said at the signing ceremony.
His remarks came after the 15-member UN Security Council threatened to take “immediate action” if Kiir failed to sign, or signed with reservations.
However, the UN Security Council took no immediate action after he signed with reservations on Wednesday. The president of the UN Council instead disclosed in remarks to the press in New York that the Council would not deliberate on the issue until next week.
The UN Council President said, “Today is not September 1, he has until on September 1.”
“The deadline for him is September 1,” added Ogwu. “We’ll wait.”
The UN Security Council has a rotating presidency. Nigeria holds the position this month, represented by their Ambassador Joy Ogwu.
Earlier, the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York circulated a draft resolution to other Security Council members that would impose an arms embargo and targeted sanctions on those who undermine peace efforts in South Sudan.
The resolution was circulated after Kiir refused to sign the peace deal in time for a 17 August deadline set by regional mediators, but before he signed yesterday. It remains to be seen whether the US Mission will still push forward the resolution after Kiir’s signing yesterday or instead will shelve it.