UN Panel of Experts receives ‘mixed messages’ on South Sudan situation

“There is honest frustration that we are well into the 4th year of this conflict and people are looking for a resolution.”

A UN Panel of Experts has concluded a visit to South Sudan as part of their mandate to investigate the situation in the country.

The panel of five met with First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, the minister of defense and other government authorities.

The Panel is mandated by resolutions 2206 (2015) and 2353 (2017) to oversee sanctions against six targeted individuals, considered to be obstructing the peace process.

It also gathers, examines and analyses information regarding the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel and related military or other assistance, including through illicit trafficking networks, to individuals and entities undermining political processes to reach a final peace agreement or participating in acts that violate international human rights law or international humanitarian law, as applicable.

The Panel reports to the UN sanctions committee on South Sudan.

During their weeklong trip, they also held meetings with UN officials, humanitarian partners and staff from various diplomatic missions.

Klem Ryan, the coordinator and an arms expert on the panel says the team has collected mixed-messages on the situation in the country.

Klem Ryan spoke to David Lukan in this interview.