Supporters of Juba’s ruling SPLM faction, one of two main groups waging war in South Sudan since late 2013, today demonstrated against plans by the UN to impose sanctions on individuals “obstructing reconciliation or peace talks.”
Pro-SPLM-Juba demonstrators marched to the National Legislative Assembly with a petition against the step taken by the UN Security Council toward imposing sanctions on pro-war elements in South Sudan.
The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday creating a system for imposing sanctions such as bank freezes on South Sudanese leaders, without yet applying the sanctions or naming anyone to be targeted.
The demonstrators carried signs and chanted slogans such as “Sanctions mean more suffering for our people.”
Speaking at the demonstration, Parliament Speaker and SPLM-Juba loyalist Manasseh Magok Rundial rejected the idea of sanctions on South Sudan, says imposing sanctions by force on the two leaders to pressure them to sign an agreement is not a genuine step.
“If the khawajaat [meaning ‘whites’] agree that this country should be sanctioned, we are totally rejecting it… the threats of sanctions will never work, they encourage more war and bring no peace in the country,” he stated.
Some of the demonstrators wore military uniforms and others were children.
They also carried signs calling for the unity of the army (SPLA-Juba faction) and opposing a proposal to give temporary recognition to rival SPLA-IO forces during a transitional period, which SPLM-Juba says would create ‘two armies’ in the country.
“One People, One Army,” read the sign carried by one demonstrator, who was standing near several military personnel. Another said, “Long live Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit.”
Manasseh said, “We don’t want two separate armies; we have determined our rights as country and no one [can] impose the system of two armies.”
Today’s demonstration coincides with the final deadline set by IGAD mediators for war leaders Salva Kiir and Riek Machar to reach a peace deal in Addis Ababa.