On Friday 2 February, the Council of the European Union imposed sanctions (an assets freeze and visa ban) on three people involved in serious human rights violations in South Sudan. The legal acts linked to this decision, which was adopted by written procedure, will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on 3 February.
These restrictive measures have been taken "in view of the ever deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in South Sudan, and considering the lack of commitment by some actors to the ongoing peace process", the Council states in a press release.
This is the first time that the EU has sanctioned people autonomously in connection with the situation in South Sudan. It has, however, already sanctioned six people regarding the situation in the country by transposing measures adopted by the United Nations Security Council.
On 26 January, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service stated in a press release that the EU was ready to impose sanctions on those responsible for constant violations of the agreement on the cessation of hostilities, including human rights (see EUROPE 11949). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)