Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, Deprose Muchena welcomed United Nations Security Council’s decision to renew the arms embargo on South Sudan for another year.
‘We welcome the renewal of the arms embargo as it is crucial to curtailing the flow of weapons that have been used to commit war crimes, human rights violations and abuses’, he said.
Muchena in a statement to CRN, Muchena called on the UN Security Council and UN members to diligently enforce arms embargo on South Sudan.
He also welcomed UN decision to review the arms embargo in December this year, including implementation of all provisions of the peace agreement signed by parties to the conflict in South Sudan in 2018.
These provisions include establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, reform of the country’s security and justice sectors, and protection of human rights at all times.
Muchena said the human rights situation in South Sudan remains dire as government forces, fighters of armed opposition groups and armed youth continue to violate rights daily, breaking country’s constitution, revitalized agreement and international law.
Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa pointed out that many civilians continue to be killed and displaced from their homes, girls as young as eight have been gang-raped.
The official added that human rights defenders and journalists continue to be harassed and intimidated.