This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
Published on June 25, 2020, the African Union (AU) has imposed sanctions on South Sudan due to the country's failure to pay its overdue membership fees worth over $9 million.
According to a letter dated June 17, South Sudan has not paid its annual membership fees for three consecutive years, resulting in the sanctions.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Hakim Edward confirmed the sanctions, stating that while they bar delegates from attending AU meetings, sanctioned nations still maintain their AU membership.
South Sudan's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Deng Dau Deng, blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for the delay in payments, revealing that the state had paid 40% of their contribution and membership fee.
Minister Deng Dau Deng stated, 'South Sudan was due to pay a commitment, of which from December to January, we paid 40 percent of our contribution and membership [fee] to the African Union. We are committed as a country to pay our contribution, but the current situation delayed our payment.'
Experts in the country believe that the nation should pay up its dues sooner to avoid missing out on the AU's critical strategic decisions.
South Sudan is Missing out on Strategic Decisions ¶
Nhial Tit Mammer, a Policy Analyst with the Sudd Institute, emphasized the importance of participating in AU meetings, saying, '…if South Sudan is not going to participate in those meetings where important decisions are going to be made, then it's a huge problem. And it also has implications on our pride as a nation.'
