South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin says that regional leaders have come out clearly in support of the government against any threats of sanctions.
Speaking on Monday upon his arrival from Angola after attended a meeting of foreign ministers, Marial said that he expressed the position of his government at the conference and leaders have expressed their support and commitment to the government and peace process through IGAD mediation.
“I went to International Conference of Great Lakes Regional (ICGLR), the foreign ministers meeting in Angola and there the Republic of South Sudan has given their reports and our commitment to peace in South Sudan,” he said.
“I think we were successful, we have been understood now that these sanctions are senseless, they don’t make any meaning at all,” Marial said.
“Why do you need sanctions at the same time you go through the world that there is a humanitarian disaster in South Sudan? And at the same you impose sanctions: you will make the situation worse because the ordinary people will suffer.”
He added, “What South Sudan needs now is help, not punishment and I think the international community gets this message clearly.”