The United States has warned South Sudan’s transitional government that officials could face sanctions and visa restrictions over what Washington says are continued obstacles to humanitarian assistance.
In a statement issued by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs on Sunday, September 20, the United States accused officials at national, state and local levels of obstructing humanitarian operations and treating humanitarian assistance as a source of revenue.
“For far too long, South Sudan’s transitional government has ignored its responsibility to reduce the costs and risks faced by those seeking to help South Sudanese people in need,” the Bureau of African Affairs said.
Washington said the restrictions and obstacles facing humanitarian organisations have contributed to making South Sudan one of the most dangerous places in the world for aid workers.
The United States also criticised what it described as the failure to address the underlying causes of the humanitarian crisis, including political violence and weaknesses in the use of public revenues to provide basic services and respond to humanitarian needs.
The warning comes as millions of South Sudanese continue to depend on humanitarian assistance amid conflict, displacement, food insecurity and limited access to basic services.
The United States said its position on humanitarian access would also influence future decisions about where to direct its foreign assistance resources.
“South Sudan’s transitional government’s unwillingness to act like a partner to those trying to help their people will continue to factor heavily into the United States’ decision making about where to devote valuable foreign assistance resources around the world,” the Bureau said.
Washington further warned that it could use sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals it considers responsible for obstructing humanitarian assistance.
“We will use all the tools available to us, including sanctions and visa restrictions, to end the impunity that has contributed to making South Sudan one of the most dangerous places in the world to deliver humanitarian assistance,” the Bureau said.
Existing US Sanctions Framework
The United States already maintains a sanctions framework relating to South Sudan.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control says the programme includes measures established under Executive Order 13664 and other legal authorities.
The latest warning therefore introduces the possibility of additional measures targeting individuals linked to the obstruction of humanitarian operations, although the September 20 statement did not publicly identify specific officials or announce new sanctions.
The United States remains a major humanitarian donor to South Sudan, with U.S. government assistance historically supporting food security, health, education, livelihoods and other humanitarian programmes.
The warning places renewed focus on the relationship between the transitional government and international humanitarian organisations as South Sudan continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis.
