South Sudan’s Defense Minister has criticized the European Union's decision to impose sanctions on SPLA General Santino Deng Wol, saying the EU lacks sufficient evidence against the general.

In a press statement, the Defense Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk stressed that the European Union issued its decision without evidence to prove the involvement of Santino Deng Wol in human rights violations.

The minister instead blamed the rebels led by the former Vice President Riek Machar of violating the cease-fire agreement, which was signed in May and attacking their positions in Unity state.

The Council of the European Union issued a decision on 10 June ordering European governments to seize assets belonging to Santino Deng Wol and ban him from traveling to EU countries.

Council Decision 2014/449/CFSP explained, “Santino Deng is commander of the third Infantry Division of the SPLA that took part in in the recapture of Bentiu in May 2014. Santino Deng is thus responsible for violations of the 23 January Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.”

The EU also reaffirmed an existing arms embargo against South Sudan, banning the “sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment… to South Sudan by nationals of Member States” of the European Union.

Kuol Manyang also stated that the South Sudanese government has not yet received any letter regarding an arms embargo by the United Nations or any other international body.

File photo

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