UN renews South Sudan sanctions

The U.N. Security Council has voted to renew sanctions on a number of individuals allegedly obstructing a peace agreement in South Sudan, where tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced by over two years of fighting between the government and rebels.

The resolution, approved Tuesday, extends sanctions for a year and welcomes the formation of a coalition government between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice-President Riek Machar, in April, but it also recognizes much remains to be done to achieve a peaceful settlement.

South Sudan’s Ambassador to the U.N., Joseph Moum Malok, said his government was working to implement the peace agreement and was disappointed that the resolution failed to recognize his country’s right govern and manage its own affairs.