01/09/2020 South Sudan (International Christian Concern) – On January 8, the United States Treasury Department announced in a statement that sanctions were imposed on South Sudan’s First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai.

Deng was sanctioned due to his alleged arrangement and direction of the killings of his opposition and a human rights lawyer, as well as work to divide and sow distrust in the rival political party. Deng was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

While Sudan has appeared to move towards greater religious freedom and Christians reportedly experience more expression of faith, its southern neighbor has failed to match the same types of commitments.

Most recently, South Sudanese Christians suffered from the Rimenze Catholic Church attack in November that left four people dead and thousands without homes. By mid-November a new government agreement was supposed to be signed. After being delayed for 100 days, the current South Sudan government lost the U.S. ambassador.

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