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U.S. Imposes First Sanctions in South Sudan Conflict U.S. Imposes First Sanctions in South Sudan Conflict
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — In its first use of economic sanctions against combatants in the bloody fighting in South Sudan, the Obama administration on Tuesday ordered asset freezes and travel bans on two individuals, one on each side of the conflict.WASHINGTON — In its first use of economic sanctions against combatants in the bloody fighting in South Sudan, the Obama administration on Tuesday ordered asset freezes and travel bans on two individuals, one on each side of the conflict.
The sanctions, which were announced by Secretary of State John Kerry, were imposed under an executive order President Obama signed a month ago in response to the violence that has killed thousands and displaced more than a million people.The sanctions, which were announced by Secretary of State John Kerry, were imposed under an executive order President Obama signed a month ago in response to the violence that has killed thousands and displaced more than a million people.
The announcement came as President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and Riek Machar, the rebel leader, agreed to face-to-face talks in Ethiopia, which are tentatively scheduled to be held on Friday.The announcement came as President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and Riek Machar, the rebel leader, agreed to face-to-face talks in Ethiopia, which are tentatively scheduled to be held on Friday.
One of the targets of the sanctions was Marial Chanuong, the commander of the government’s presidential guard force, who Mr. Kerry said led attacks against civilians in and around Juba, the South Sudan capital.One of the targets of the sanctions was Marial Chanuong, the commander of the government’s presidential guard force, who Mr. Kerry said led attacks against civilians in and around Juba, the South Sudan capital.
The other was Peter Gadet, who Mr. Kerry said led rebel forces in an April 17 assault on Bentiu that killed more than 200 civilians.The other was Peter Gadet, who Mr. Kerry said led rebel forces in an April 17 assault on Bentiu that killed more than 200 civilians.
Mr. Kerry described them as “individuals responsible for perpetrating unthinkable violence against civilians.”Mr. Kerry described them as “individuals responsible for perpetrating unthinkable violence against civilians.”
“Any assets they have in a U.S. bank, with a U.S. person or that transit the U.S. even for a split second would need to be blocked and U.S. persons can’t do business with them,” said a senior Obama administration official. “Any assets they have in a U.S. bank, with a U.S. person or that transit the U.S. even for a split second would need to be blocked, and U.S. persons can’t do business with them,” said a senior Obama administration official.
Administration officials did not say whether Mr. Chanuon and Mr. Gadet, in fact, had any assets in the United States. And American officials have previously said that economic sanctions might not be effective unless they were also applied by neighboring African nations. Administration officials did not say whether Mr. Chanuong and Mr. Gadet, in fact, had any assets in the United States. And American officials have previously said that economic sanctions might not be effective unless they were also applied by neighboring African nations.
“What we realize is that a lot of the South Sudanese own property and travel to Kenya and Uganda and Ethiopia,” a senior State Department official said last week. “And so without them participating, we think the sanctions will be weaker.”“What we realize is that a lot of the South Sudanese own property and travel to Kenya and Uganda and Ethiopia,” a senior State Department official said last week. “And so without them participating, we think the sanctions will be weaker.”
But the Obama administration official, who declined to be identified under the protocol for briefing reporters, said that the sanctions would send the message that others might also be subject to such measures if they did not cooperate with efforts to end the fighting.But the Obama administration official, who declined to be identified under the protocol for briefing reporters, said that the sanctions would send the message that others might also be subject to such measures if they did not cooperate with efforts to end the fighting.
“The primary purpose is to isolate and apply pressure to change the decision-making calculus of the key actors involved,” he said.“The primary purpose is to isolate and apply pressure to change the decision-making calculus of the key actors involved,” he said.
Mr. Kerry returned Sunday night from a swing through Africa during which he extracted a promise from Mr. Kiir to attend the talks and in a phone call urged Mr. Machar to join the negotiations. Mr. Kerry returned Monday night from a swing through Africa during which he extracted a promise from Mr. Kiir to attend the talks and, in a phone call, urged Mr. Machar to join the negotiations.
The talks, which are to be held under the auspices of Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, are to focus on the need to implement a widely ignored cease-fire and the possible establishment of a transitional government.The talks, which are to be held under the auspices of Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, are to focus on the need to implement a widely ignored cease-fire and the possible establishment of a transitional government.
During his trip to Africa, Mr. Kerry also met with his counterparts from Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia and later said they were willing in principle to join the United States in imposing economic sanctions.During his trip to Africa, Mr. Kerry also met with his counterparts from Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia and later said they were willing in principle to join the United States in imposing economic sanctions.
But it remains unclear what action these African nations might take and when it might come.But it remains unclear what action these African nations might take and when it might come.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an end to the violence during a visit Tuesday to South Sudan.United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an end to the violence during a visit Tuesday to South Sudan.
“Fighting must end. Much damage has already been done. It may take long to heal," Mr. Ban said. “Fighting must end. Much damage has already been done. It may take long to heal,” Mr. Ban said. “The country’s leaders must close the wounds they have opened.”
“The country’s leaders must close the wounds they have opened.”