Civil society groups are urging the US President Barack Obama to support a comprehensive United Nations arms embargo on the warring parties in South Sudan.
29 South Sudanese and international human rights, humanitarian, and other groups said today in a letter to President Obama that thousands of civilians have been killed in the one-year conflict.
They say more weapons flowing into the country will deteriorate the situation.
“More weapons will mean more fuel to the fire, more attacks on civilians, arbitrary killings, rape, burnings and pillage,” said Geoffrey Duke, secretariat team leader at the South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms.
“President Obama should do everything he can to ensure that this year is not a repeat of the horrific last year for South Sudanese. Now is the time to take action.”
Non-governmental organizations have been calling for an arms embargo on South Sudan since early last year.