By Yiep Joseph
Advocacy groups expressed concern over recent steps taken by the United States regarding South Sudan, arguing that these actions will negatively affect citizens who are unaware of the political disagreements between the two nations.
The worries come amid reports of a United States (US) withdrawal of its troops from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Furthermore, reports of the US cutting peace funding and imposing financial restrictions on South Sudan continue to threaten both the economic stability and the implementation of peace in the country.
Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), acknowledged in a statement released to the media that such decisions would severely undermine the peace agreement.
He appealed to the US government to reconsider its stance for the sake of humanity and the pursuit of lasting peace in South Sudan.
“I would like to humbly appeal to the new Administration of the United States to reverse the decision to withdraw from the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan and to cut peace funding. While we understand it is not our right to dictate the interests and will of the people and government of the United States, we urge them to reconsider,” Yakani stated.
The activist called on the US to reverse its course, adding that the consequences of diplomatic misunderstandings between countries should not harm ordinary citizens.
“The tensions that arise between South Sudan and the government of the United States should not be used as a tool to punish the citizens of South Sudan or the citizens of the United States,” he emphasized.
Yakani expressed his belief that the United States, as a long-standing friend to South Sudan, should maintain its support for the nation.
“My appeal is that the traditional friendship between the people of South Sudan and the people of the United States should not be affected by the political disagreements between Juba and Washington D.C.,” he said.
The activist did acknowledge the United States government for granting visas to the South Sudanese delegation to travel to Washington D.C. for the World Bank Spring Meetings.
Yakani reiterated that the function of the UN, with contributions from the United States, reflects a commitment to humanity.
“While South Sudan may be geographically distant from the United States, humanity connects us. The existence of this global humanity is felt through the work of UN agencies, which serve as instruments with a global responsibility to protect, share, work together, collaborate, and maintain humanity and solidarity,” he explained.
Recent reports indicate that the United States recently withdrew a group of peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the revocation of visas for all South Sudanese passport holders due to the African nation’s refusal to accept its citizens who have been deported from the US.
Rubio, in a statement released to the media, also stated that the US would block any arriving citizens of South Sudan at US ports of entry.
He attributed this decision to “the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner.”
“It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States,” Rubio said.
“Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” he added.
On March 8th, the US ordered all its non-emergency staff in South Sudan to leave as regional fighting broke out, threatening a fragile peace deal agreed upon in 2018.