The UK extends financial sanctions on key gov’t leaders and army generals.

The United Kingdom (UK) has extended economic sanctions and asset freezes to Gen. Paul Malong, commander of the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A).

The statement mentions information minister Michael Makuei Lueth, chief of defense forces Gen. Santino Deng Wuol, presidential guard commander Gen. Marial Chanuong, and the leader of SPLM-IO breakaway faction, Simon Gatwech Dual.

According to a consolidated list of financial sanctions targets in the United Kingdom obtained by NCMP, Malong’s sanctions have been extended for crimes allegedly committed during his tenure as SPLA General Chief of Staff.

According to one section of the paper, “As Chief of General Staff of the SPLA, Malong escalated or prolonged the war in South Sudan by violating the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the 2015 Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS),” according to one section of the paper.

It says that Mr. Malong, dubbed “King Paul,” oversaw operations to assassinate opposition leader Riek Machar and instructed SPLA forces to obstruct humanitarian aid shipments.

The UK government also claims that the sanctions were extended in response to suspected human rights violations against civilians.

Under Malong’s direction, the SPLA targeted people, schools, and hospitals, forcing civilians to flee, carrying out enforced disappearances, arbitrarily arresting civilians, and committing acts of torture and rape, the report reads.

Malong was also accused of refusing UNMISS, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), and CTSAMM access to places where atrocities were being investigated and documented.

Malong, now the commander of the SSUF/A, a splinter armed opposition organization, was added to the UK list of sanctioned people on July 18, 2018.