South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the United Nations and the regional mediating group the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) should not use sanctions to end the civil war.

“What we need from UN Security Council and IGAD countries they should support the peace process. South Sudan doesn’t need sanctions," Marial told reporters at Juba International Airport upon arrival from Nairobi, Kenya.

Marial was in Nairobi attending an IGAD ministerial meeting with a Security Council delegation that visited South Sudan earlier this week.

"The people of South Sudan can live in peace then the accountability issue with regards to those who violated the human [rights] will come later,” Marial added.

While in Juba, the Security Council delegation spoke to President Salva Kiir face-to-face and rebel leader Riek Machar via video link and reiterated their threat to slap targeted sanctions on anyone delaying peace talks or committing human rights violations.

Dr Barnaba Marial B, South Sudan's minister of Foreign Affairs speaks to the press today, Photo by Radio Tamazuj.

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