By Okech Francis
JUBA
South Sudanese Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said his country needed help and encouragement, particularly from the U.S., to restore stability and remains committed to peace talks with the rebels and investigated human rights abuses.
"What South Sudan needs is peace and help and not punishment," Benjamin told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Barak Obama issued an executive order clearing the way for sanctions on individuals and entities in South Sudan – but without actually imposing any punitive measures.
"Those who threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan; obstruct the peace process; target U.N. peacekeepers; or are responsible for human rights abuses and atrocities will not have a friend in the United States and run the risk of sanctions," the White House said in a statement.
South Sudan has been shaken by violence since last December, when President Salva Kiir accused his sacked vice president, Riek Machar, of trying to overthrow him.
The conflict has already claimed more than 10,000 lives, with the U.N. estimating that some one million South Sudanese have been displaced by the recent violence.
Following weeks of peace talks in Addis Ababa, sponsored by the Intergovernmental Agency on Development, an East African trade bloc, the two sides signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in January.
They have yet to reach a final agreement to resolve the conflict, however.
Benjamin said his ministry had been tasked with forming a special committee to study Obama's executive order, which he pointed out did not include the imposition of sanctions.
"The government has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to examine the pros and cons in these orders, and this is what we are doing," said the top diplomat.
"That [Obama's executive order] is a framework. They are not sanctions yet," he added.
"The U.S. is telling the government and rebels that whoever abuses human rights, kill[s] peacekeepers and blocks the peace process… will face sanctions," Benjamin said.
The minister stressed that the executive order had not affected his country's relations with the U.S.
"We are engaging the Americans; if there are issues that raise their eyebrows, then we sit down and talk," he added.
"What we need from the United States is not punishment, but encouragement."
-'Fully committed'-
The foreign minister reiterated his government's commitment to the peace process.
"In terms of the IGAD-mediated process, we are fully committed," he said.
Benjamin added that the government was equally committed to investigating human rights abuses.
"South Sudan is not denying the isolated cases of human rights abuses," he said. "Yes, it is there. But we need to take the right way through which to solve them."
"South Sudan is handling the issues constitutionally with its legal frameworks, so that the issues are investigated and resolved," the diplomat said.
He added that the government was cooperating with an African Union (A.U.) probe into alleged rights violations.
"The A.U. has formed an investigation led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and they are working with us," said Benjamin.
-Charm offensive-
The top diplomat said the government and Foreign Ministry had recently launched an image-building offensive.
"There is a very big offensive diplomatic action by the country to enhance peace and security in south Sudan," he told AA.
Benjamin said the charm offensive was pursuing a multi-pronged approach.
"Recently, I went to… Uganda, Rwanda and even Sudan to do the same; to see that the cooperation agreement is being undertaken and to enhance border trade between the two countries," he said.
"The president has also recently been in this offensive, going to Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda," Benjamin noted. "The vice president is also doing so in order to strengthen diplomatic relations in order to solve this issue."
"Recently, we attended the European Union-Africa Summit for Peace and Security in terms of development on our continent," he said.
"We had to explain to them what is happening in our country – the coup attempt led by our former vice president, Machar."
The minister added: "We are also in [a] good relationship with the U.N. We are promoting [our] relationship with other countries, like the U.K. and China."
-Improved ties-
Regarding South Sudan's relations with neighboring Sudan in light of recent accusations that Khartoum was aiding the rebels, Foreign Minister Benjamin said this had not affected the two countries' ties.
"South Sudan and Sudan have very good diplomatic relations," he insisted.
"We are exchanging views, particularly on the issue of the cooperation agreement," the diplomat added.
"It will be investigated, but that does not change our good relations with Sudan."
He said allegations of Sudanese support for rebel activity in South Sudan had been around since 2005.
"These are intelligence reports. They will be investigated and proven between the two countries," Benjamin asserted.
"It will be investigated. But that does not change our good relations with Sudan."
englishnews@aa.com.tr
