US legislates to restrict defence trade with South Sudan

On 14 February, the US Department of State issued a final rule adding South Sudan to s126 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations . This means that South Sudan is now included in the list of countries to which prohibited exports, imports and sales to and from certain countries apply. A policy of denial on the export of defence articles and services is now in place, unless the export falls under one of the listed exceptions which are decided on a case-by-case basis.

The restrictions are in response to the continuing violence by both government and armed opposition in South Sudan, despite a peace agreement brokered in December 2017, which has created a massive humanitarian crisis. The US has stated that that it encourages other countries to follow its lead by imposing arms restrictions and is seeking support for a UN Security Council embargo on ‘all arms flows into South Sudan’.

Earlier this month, the EU Council imposed unilateral sanctions over South Sudan in response to the escalating crisis; the first time it has done so in addition to United Nations’ sanctions.

For the final rule in the Federal Register see:
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-14/pdf/2018-02995.pdf