Gen Malong defies US-EU sanctions, flights to Italy

January 6, 2020 EU, Newsbeat, UN

General Paul Malong Awan, former Chief of General Staff and Chairman of the South Sudan United Front (SSUF) takes note during a meeting, (Photo: Supplied)

January 7th, 2020 (SSNN)—South Sudan’s former Chief of General Staff and Chairman of the South Sudan United Front (SSUF), General Paul Malong Awan has traveled to Italy for a meeting organized by the community of Sant’Edidio, despite sanctions imposed on him by the United States and the European Union in 2018.

Sunday De John, a spokesman of the South Sudan United Front said that Malong is no longer impeding the peace process and that’s why he was allowed to travel to Italy, a member state of the European Union.

“General Malong Malong is not a peace spoiler, that’s why he [has] been allowed to travel freely. I urge our people to remain hopeful for lasting peace.”

“The Catholic community invited the holdout opposition groups for the purpose of engagement in dialogue. The parties that will attend the meetings are South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance and South Sudan government,” Radio Tamazuj quoted
SSUF’s spokesperson as saying.

In 2018, the Treasury Department imposed individual sanctions on General Paul Malong, a former high-ranking commander in the SPLA, for his role in obstructing the implementation of the peace agreement.

Five months later, in the wake of the US actions, the European Union echoed the US measures and imposed individual sanctions on him and other top army commanders who were accused of involving in serious human rights violations in South Sudan.

The restrictive measures include, but not limited to, travel ban and asset freeze by all EU member states.

South Sudan’s government and opposition groups signed a peace agreement in September 2018 aimed at ending a devastating conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions of from their homes.