South Sudan’s government has promised to pay the financial contribution arrears it owes African Union.
Radio Tamazuj reports.
Last week, the African Union sanctioned South Sudan after the national government in Juba failed to pay its annual contributions. On Tuesday, South Sudan ambassador to Ethiopia and Africa Union, James Morgan said they will clear pay the money in a week’s time.
“South Sudan has delayed in remitting its share of contributions to the AU for two years. Every year we pay like 3 million US dollars, so we are going to pay that amount because we delayed for two years,” Morgan explained.
The South Sudanese diplomat said the sanction cannot allow them to talk in the AU meetings.
“You can attend the AU meetings, but you will not talk, even if it’s your country’s problem that’s being discussed,” said Morgan.
However, Morgan assured the public that South Sudan is not deprived of its membership by the sanction.
“The membership of South Sudan remains active, and nobody can suspend our membership,” he added.
According to him, the money needed is about 6 million US Dollars as annual membership fee for two years. The ambassador cited implementation of the revitalized peace agreement as a reason for South Sudan’s failure to meet its financial obligations.
The country joined the African Union on July 27, 2011 becoming the 54th member.
Meanwhile Hakim Edward, Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson, confirmed South Sudan had been sanctioned by the African Union after it failed to pay its annual contributions.
“We would like to confirm to the public that South Sudan is one of the countries that have been sanctioned by the AU due to lack of yearly financial contributions,” Edward said in a statement issued last week.