South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has called on the international community to lift the sanctions and arms embargo that have been in place since the country’s civil conflict erupted in December 2013. Speaking at the opening session of the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly in Juba, Kiir said these restrictions are obstructing security reforms and national development.
He emphasized that South Sudan’s foreign policy is rooted in peaceful coexistence and regional cooperation, and urged immediate removal of the embargo to enable progress.
The UN arms embargo, enforced since 2018, bans weapons transfers and external military support to armed factions in South Sudan. Additional sanctions were imposed by the United States and several European nations.
Kiir also called on all parties to the 2018 peace agreement to recommit without preconditions and encouraged opposition groups that have yet to sign the deal to join the reconciliation process. He advocated for the swift integration of peaceful opposition forces into a unified national army, reiterating that peace, security, and unity remain top priorities for his administration.