The UN Security Council extended an arms embargo and sanctions in South Sudan with a US-drafted resolution passing by a minimum amount of support, with nine countries in favor and six abstentions. The resolution decried continued violence in the country and extended the arms embargo until May 31, 2025.
The resolution also extends an exemption allowing the transfer of non-lethal military aid in support of a 2018 peace deal without prior notification. The Security Council is ready to review the arms embargo measures based on progress on key issues, aiming to stem the flow of weapons and address ongoing violence in the region.
South Sudan rejects the embargo, calling for a more balanced approach while several Security Council members including Russia oppose the extension, citing negative effects on the transitional government’s capacity to maintain peace. Some member states, particularly African countries backed by Russia, oppose UN arms embargos, viewing them as outdated and in need of review.
From 2013 to 2018, South Sudan endured a civil war resulting in 380,000 deaths. Despite a peace deal in 2018, violence persists, and nearly two million people are internally displaced. The Security Council’s decision on the arms embargo aims to address ongoing violence and support peace efforts in the country.
