Two parliamentary committees want Kenya and the East Africa Community at large to consider imposing sanctions on South Sudan’s leaders if they fail to cooperate in a proposed unity government to end a bloody conflict.
Defence and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ndung’u Gethenji said they will also be seeking to freeze the assets of leaders who have been jostling for power in South Sudan and have enriched themselves, associates, and their families while much of the public suffers on the verge of famine through a savage civil war.
“We are looking at jointly bringing a Motion to the National Assembly to ensure that sanctions are targeted against those who are perpetuating war-like activities, genocide and killing and they may no longer enjoy having their assets in our county, their children studying in our schools in relative comfort in peace and security while they continue to destroy the lives of their people back in their own country. Kenya can no longer afford to have another failed state on its border,” he said.
The MPs expressed worry towards the renewed fighting in South Sudan’s capital Juba.
“The EAC must also stand up strong and say enough is enough and issue a notice for termination of membership of South Sudan, we must also look at sanctions targeted at those people who are involved in the fighting, who are involved in the financing and many of those people are living in Kenya, many of those people are living in Addis, many of those people are living in Khartoum, and this must end immediately,” Gethenji added.
National Security Committee Chairman Asman Kamama implored the warring parties to resolve problems and difference using dialogue and not by force of arms so that peace and stability can be regained.
“The situation is so bad that people have even problems getting food; Kenyans have lost businesses in billions, our banks were burnt. We want the region to advise Dr (Riek) Machar that the time for war is not now. The time for peace is what we need to pursue to its logical conclusion,” Kamama stated.
The renewed violence is fuelled by the rivalry between South Sudan President, Salva Kiir and Vice-President Machar. It has so far claimed over 300 lives.
Machar has since fled Juba and on Wednesday was reported to be on his way to South Africa for medical check-ups.
