South Sudan has survived an arms embargo and a number of sanctions at the United Nations Security Council by only two votes.
The United States sponsored sanctions resolution aimed at putting pressure on the volatile, war torn Great Lake nation’s government and the rebels to end the war, was supposed to garner a minimum of 9 votes in its favor from the 15 member Security Council states.
The resolution however fell short of two votes when only 7 supported it and 8 votes were casted against at the UN Security Council meeting on Friday.
The move was meant to stop selling or transfer of weapons to South Sudan. Targeted sanctions against 3 more figures from the government and the rebel were also expected.
The UN has already imposed sanctions on 6 generals both from the government and opposition side.
In July 2015, the presidential guard unit commander, Maj. Gen. Marial Chanwong, Sector One Commander Mangok, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak and 3rd Division Commander Maj. Gen. Santiono Deng Wol were slapped with sanctions that included assets freeze and travel.
From the rebel side, the Chief of General Staff, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, Gen. James Koang Chuol and Gen. Peter Gadet were also sanctioned.
The US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control had already imposed sanctions on generals Chanuong and Gatwech in May 2014 following President Barack Obama’s directive.