The 18 South Sudanese political parties that form the loose opposition association known as ‘PPLF’ held a press conference in Juba today at which they welcomed international sanctions on warmongers and warned that the country will be in danger if left in the hands of war leaders Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.

The Political Parties Leadership Forum (PPLF) said that Kiir and Machar cannot lead during a post-war transitional period because during peace talks they have proved themselves to be self-interested.

Speaking on Thursday, PPLF chairman Dr. Lam Akol, explained that the warring parties promised that they would make a peace deal by 5 March but they failed to do.

Dr. Lam was asked about the United Nations Security Council resolution 2206, which creates a legal framework for imposing targeted sanctions on individuals obstructing peace, potentially subjecting them to asset freezes and asset bans in cooperating countries.

He replied, “Regarding the sanctions on the individuals, this is not the first time: [Presidential Guard Commander] General Marial [Chanuong], you know very well how many times sanctions were put on him by the Americans, European Union, Canadians… and the other guy [Division 3 Commander] Santino Deng, and we didn’t hear anything from the government.”

“Why should it be a surprise when other people are included? Individual sanctions should not be understood to be the same as sanctions on the country… this is how the government wants to put it sometimes,” said Lam Akol, who is also chairman of the SPLM-DC party.

He argued that the existing sanctions on General Marial Chanuong and General Santino Deng have not negatively affected the country, so neither will more targeted sanctions.

“When if it was Marial or Santino it was not affecting the country but if it now Mr. X or Mr. Y, it would be affecting the country… if individual sanctions were wrong we should have condemned it the moment it was imposed on some of us,” Dr Lam added.  

‘They are in power for ten years now’

In a written statement and spoken remarks to the press, PPLF leaders today argued that Riek Machar and Salva Kiir were in power for ‘ten years’ in South Sudan and led the country to war and destruction.

“There is no future for this country unless this senseless war is brought to a speedy end through a negotiated peace settlement. There can never be a military victory to either side,” reads statement.

“The warring parties have proved beyond doubt that they are incapable of leading the peace process and the transitional arrangements that follow the attainment of peace. We call upon all stakeholders in the country to rise up to the challenge facing our beleaguered country.”

Lam Akol added, “These people fear to say they have failed to agree on their own positions. They say the problem is the two separate armies and so on. Their interest was to stay in power before and after the interim period, and remember they are in the power for ten years now without any reforms in the country.”

“Not only did they fail to deliver on this promise, but their positions on the outstanding issues became more entrenched and there was no agreement on a single one of them. This is a shame.”