Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Administration’s Executive Order, which grants the U.S. the ability to sanction individuals in South Sudan who have threatened the peace and security in South Sudan, or committed human rights abuses:

“Five months and counting and South Sudan is no closer to finding a way forward.

“I welcome these sanctions. I called for them in the hearing we held in January.  Imposing these sanctions when the fighting was at its height could have been more impactful, but it’s better late than never.

“We need to strongly convey to both sides – the government and the opposition – that their actions to undermine peace do have consequences. When deciding who to sanction, the Administration should consider all actors, regardless of any past relationships.”

Note: Earlier this year, Chairman Royce held a hearing to examine the turmoil in South Sudan.  The hearing, entitled “South Sudan’s Broken Promise?,” followed a letter sent from Chairman Royce and other Congressional leaders to the South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit to express their deep concern about the growing ethnic violence and deteriorating security situation there.

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