Dr. Barnaba Marial, presidential affairs minister | File photo

The Minister of Foreign Affairs says South Sudan has to has urged the United States of America and the European Union not to impose sanctions on the country.

Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin says the government has stressed that it needs support in attaining peace rather than imposition of sanctions.

He spoke on his return from a Common Wealth summit in the United Kingdom.

“We have also made contacts and made our campaigns with our friends and stressed the fact that, South Sudan does not need punishment, South Sudan does not need sanctions, what south Sudan needs is to be supported in its peace process and to be supported in its development projects.” He said.

Earlier, the South Sudan’s ambassador to the UN had cautioned the United Nations Security Council that imposing sanctions on the country would negatively affect peace.

Francis Deng told the council yesterday that the international community can play a positive role by engaging both parties constructively to speed up the peace process.