The African Union Peace and Security Council has formally called on the United Nations to lift the arms embargo imposed on South Sudan since 2018, arguing that removing the restriction would help unify security forces and strengthen the peace process. The AU believes that easing the embargo could allow government and opposition troops to consolidate under unified command, bolstering institutional reforms and paving the way for national reconciliation.
However, the call to lift the embargo is met with strong international concern. Human rights groups like Amnesty International, along with several UN Security Council members, warn that increased access to arms could reignite ethnic violence and undermine civilian protection. They highlight recent violations—including Uganda’s arms delivery to Juba without proper authorization, and evidence of active attack helicopters—arguing that a premature lifting of the embargo risks unraveling hard-won peace progress.
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