U.S. holds FVP Taban responsible for loss of lives, enforced disappearance of opposition members

January 9, 2020 Newsbeat

First Vic-President Taban Deng Gai (Photo: Supplied)

January 9th, 2020 (SSNN)—South Sudan’s First Vic-President Taban Deng Gai has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians and enforced disappearance of opposition members, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office said on Wednesday.

“The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the First Vice President of South Sudan, Taban Deng Gai (Deng) for his involvement in serious human rights abuse, including the disappearance and deaths of civilians. Deng has acted to divide and sow distrust within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and broader Nuer community, which has extended the conflict in South Sudan and deteriorated the reconciliation and peace process.”

Yesterday, the Trump administration took drastic measures, and imposed individual sanctions on South Sudan’s incumbent FVP Taban Deng Gai, accusing him of being complicit in heinous human rights violations against opposition supporters.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control said the government’s reluctance to allow opposition members and civil society groups to speak out for their their rights is in fact the main reason behind the slow implementation of the peace agreement.

“The Government of South Sudan’s refusal to create political space for dissenting voices — from opposition parties, ethnic groups, civil society, or media — has been a key factor in the country’s inability to implement a peace agreement and ongoing acts of violence against civilians.”

“Taban Deng Gai’s attempt to silence the opposition party is derailing the country’s ability to implement a peace agreement,” said Deputy Secretary Justin G. Muzinich.

“The United States calls on all nations to exclude from the international financial system those who jeopardize South Sudan’s future.”