US Imposed Sanctions on Peter Gadet and Marial Chanuong
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Statement by Ambassador Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on Targeted Sanctions for South Sudan, May 6, 2014
Samantha Power
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
New York, NY
May 6, 2014
Today, the United States announced targeted sanctions on two South Sudanese whose actions, including the targeting of civilians and fomenting ethnic violence, are contributing to the mounting humanitarian and human rights catastrophe unfolding in South Sudan.
The measures taken against Marial Chanuong and Peter Gadet are only a first step and should serve as a clear warning to those in the Government of South Sudan and those who have taken up arms against it: the United States is determined to hold accountable those who choose violence. To that end, we will also seek in the United Nations Security Council to authorize targeted sanctions against those who continue to undermine South Sudan’s stability.
President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar have agreed to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for face-to-face talks. We strongly urge both leaders to live up to this commitment to meet and to implement the Cessation of Hostilities agreement they signed on January 23.
South Sudan’s crisis has led to tens of thousands of deaths, driven over 1.2 million people from their homes, and brought the country to the brink of famine. It is long past time for South Sudan’s political and military leaders to set aside their political and economic self-interests and begin to address the dire needs of their people.
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US Department of the Treasury Targets Those Engaged In Violence And Atrocities In South Sudan
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned two individuals pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13664 for being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of South Sudan. The President signed E.O. 13664 on April 3, 2014, to help put an end to the cycle of violence that has claimed thousands of lives in South Sudan since December 2013. This authority targets 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.
“The violence and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Government of South Sudan and Riek Machar’s opposition forces must end,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. “We now have new tools to crack down on those who obstruct the peace process and hold accountable those responsible for violence against civilians. We stand with the people of South Sudan who are calling for peace.”
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Marial Chanuong
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Marial Chanuong is the commander of the South Sudanese Government’s Presidential Guard, which led the operations in Juba following fighting that began December 15, 2013. Chanuong executed orders to disarm Nuer soldiers and then ordered the use of tanks to target political figures in Juba, killing 22 unarmed bodyguards of Riek Machar and 7 bodyguards of Gier Chuang Aluong.
In the initial operations in Juba, by numerous and credible accounts, Chanuong’s Presidential Guard led the slaughter of Nuer civilians in and around Juba, many who were buried in mass graves. One such grave was purported to contain 200-300 civilians.
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Peter Gadet
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Forces led by Gadet attacked and captured Kaka, Upper Nile State from the SPLA in late March 2014. Subsequently, Gadet led anti-government forces attacks in Unity State during the past few days. Gadet’s forces were responsible for damaging a partially constructed oil refinery in Unity State being built by a Russian firm. Gadet’s forces had also taken control of the Tor Abyad and Kilo 30 areas in Unity State’s oil fields. Gadet and Riek Machar Teny appear to be working together to ensure the success of anti-government forces.
Gadet had been transferred from Jonglei State to Bentiu to assist the anti-government forces’ efforts to mobilize the predominantly Bol Nuer population. As of mid-April, 50,000 anti-government forces troops had surrounded Malakal in preparation for an assault on Bentiu. Forces led by Gadet indiscriminately attacked civilians, including women, in April 2014.
It is believed Gadet will refuse to abide by any future peace agreements made between anti-government forces and the Government of South Sudan, as he would construe it as surrender vice winning the war.
Identifying Information:
Name: MARIAL CHANUONG YOL MANGOK
AKA: Marial Chinuong
AKA: Marial Chan
AKA: Marial Chanoung Yol
AKA: Marial Chinoum
DOB: January 1, 1960
POB: Yirol, Lakes State
Passport: R00005943, South Sudan
Title: Sudan People’s Liberation Army Major General
Alt. Title: Commander, Presidential Guard Unit
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Name: PETER GADET
AKA: Peter Gatdet Yaka
AKA: Peter Gadet Yak
AKA: Peter Gadet Yaak
AKA: Peter Gatdet Yaak
AKA: Peter Gatdet
AKA: Peter Gatdeet Yaka
DOB: 1957 – 1959
POB: Mayom County Unity State
Alt. POB: Mayan, Unity State
Title: General
Alt. Title: Major General
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My take on the American’s Sanctions on South Sudan
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By Dhor Aher,
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Even Gen. Peter Gatdet couldn’t help taking few minutes out of his busy schedule of taking the fight to the Warrap to celebrate his new “fame”. On the Same note Gen. Marial Chanuong was up in arms protesting why would the American’s government put him at equivalent level to Gen. Peter Gatdet. That is a joke!Now on a serious note on the recent American’s decision to slap sanctions on Gen. Peter Gatdet, and Gen. Marial Chanuong, I can see the Facebook is already up in flame with many touting it as a laughable decision.
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I know the “big fishes” are not on the list as we would expect, but let not forget that the United States of America is not a country where any decision is taken without a careful thoughts.Sanctions, although literally taken as punishments, they are tools to exert pressures on the sanctioning subjects. In addition, they are leverages and it will be futile efforts to exhaust all your leverages overnight. It has to be spasmodic to tame people’s actions, and response in a positive way. If the American’s government were to abruptly slapped sanctions on Dr. Riek, President Kiir or senior political leaders, then they would exhaust all their leverages leaving them with no controls over the situations.
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Also, it leaves them with the possibility of still having window to diplomatically engage both senior officials from the government and the rebel side. Placing the sanctions on them immediately will inhabit their contacts with the American’s officials.If the American’s government was to take a serious sanctions on the top government’s officials, and rebel’s leaders, then they need to bring Europeans, the Australians, the Chinese, and African countries particularly Eastern African countries on board before it will be an effective tool.
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This action was just a little signal to let the warring parties know they mean a serious business.Lastly, as citizens of the South Sudan, we have to accept the fact that a sustainable peace will only come from our leaders, and the international community can just aid in that efforts. This Friday, our leaders will be put to the test either to put the interest of their citizens above their political differences and bring peace to the country or stick to their guns at the expense of their vulnerable population, and risk more international condemnation.
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