South Sudanese President Salva Kiir is concerned about the possible imposition of international financial sanctions on members of his government and has tasked seven of his cabinet ministers with lobbying foreign powers not to do so.

He decided at a sitting of the Council of Ministers on Friday that seven of his ministers should form a committee to lobby against the sanctions. These ministers include Barnaba Marial, Riek Gai, Jemma Nunu, John Gai, Awan Guol, Deng Deng Hoc, and Paulino Wanawilla.

Speaking to reporters after the sitting on Friday, government spokesman Michael Makuei said some members of UN Security Council were pushing for sanctions against South Sudan’s government.

Catholic Radio Network reports that he cited the Troika countries in particular –Norway, the United States and United Kingdom, saying these countries blame the government for delaying the peace process and continuing human rights violations.

"The committee will develop a strategy and way forward on how to avoid sanctions," the minister said.

“The committee is tasked with lobbying the United Nations Security Council not to impose sanctions on the people and government of South Sudan. In addition, the committee is expected to lobby regional bodies, including the African Union, so that all these issues are looked into,” he said.

Makuei said he expects the committee to finish its work before January when he said the UN Security Council is expected to debate the South Sudan sanctions.

File photo: Michael Makuei, Minister of Information and Government Spokesperson 

Related:

Canada imposes sanctions on South Sudanese generals (31 Oct.)

US envoy says ‘time has come’ for more South Sudan sanctions (9 Oct.)