By Deng Ghai Deng
United States Department of State announced on Friday that it is imposing visa restrictions on individuals from South Sudan responsible for undermining efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the country.
This action targets members of the South Sudanese government who have obstructed life-saving humanitarian aid through the taxation of aid shipments.
“The United States remains deeply concerned about the South Sudan transitional government’s failure to act with urgency to establish a clear and consistent system for full implementation of its obligations under the 2018 peace agreement,” the statement read.
“In particular, its obligation to create an enabling political, administrative, operational, and legal environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and protection.”
Despite previous assurances from the South Sudanese transitional government, the U.S. has observed no significant reduction in these barriers, raising serious doubts about the government’s commitment and capacity to fulfil its peace agreement obligations.
“Despite assurances, the government has yet to effectively reduce the unacceptably high costs, bureaucratic obstacles, and risks of providing humanitarian assistance to South Sudanese people in need. This raises questions about its willingness and capacity to abide by its 2018 peace agreement commitment to create an enabling environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and protection,” the statement added.
The visa restrictions, announced under Section 212(a) (3) (C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, are part of a broader policy introduced in 2019 aimed at holding accountable those obstructing peace and humanitarian efforts.
The U.S. remains committed to supporting the South Sudanese people and holding their leaders accountable for actions that impede the peace process and humanitarian aid efforts.