Year of Publication
2014
NGO associated?
✖
Summary
South Sudan's civil war, which has exacted a terrible toll on its civilian population, has its origins in a power struggle between factions aligned with President Salva Kiir and those who have joined former Vice President Riek Machar. Despite repeated pledges to put down their weapons,1 both sides have demonstrated a clear commitment to a military “solution” instead of a negotiated settlement.2 The country’s competing privileged elites are sacrificing their own peoples’ lives to secure the political and economic benefits—including massive state-corroding corruption—derived from control of the state.3 In his opening remarks at the latest round of peace talks underway in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, chief negotiator Seyoum Mesfin told the parties, “If you are committed to peace, you will not find it through the barrel of the gun, but around this table.”4
Simply put, unless the calculations of the leaders of the warring parties are altered, the war will continue and likely intensify. The application of a globally enforced targeted sanctions regime could change the calculus of warring elites and end impunity for mass atrocities, the obstruction of humanitarian aid, and violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement. While the United States5 and the European Union6 have already made limited sanctions designations against key military commanders on both sides, the impact of these unilateral measures has been inconsequential since most South Sudanese elites’ wealth is concentrated in neighboring states. Although they have threatened punitive measures repeatedly, regional states, in particular Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, have failed to impose targeted sanctions as a regional body in the interest of peace and security.7
Simply put, unless the calculations of the leaders of the warring parties are altered, the war will continue and likely intensify. The application of a globally enforced targeted sanctions regime could change the calculus of warring elites and end impunity for mass atrocities, the obstruction of humanitarian aid, and violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement. While the United States5 and the European Union6 have already made limited sanctions designations against key military commanders on both sides, the impact of these unilateral measures has been inconsequential since most South Sudanese elites’ wealth is concentrated in neighboring states. Although they have threatened punitive measures repeatedly, regional states, in particular Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, have failed to impose targeted sanctions as a regional body in the interest of peace and security.7