The United States has announced visa restrictions on members of South Sudan’s transitional government and imposed sanctions on Crawford Capital Ltd., accusing officials and affiliated entities of corruption, undermining the peace process, and fueling instability in the country.
In a statement released on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was taking action against individuals it believes have obstructed implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the fragile peace deal that ended years of civil war.
Rubio said the transitional government had for years failed to fully implement the agreement, warning that South Sudan was now “on the brink of a return to all-out war.”
The U.S. accused corrupt officials and entities, including Crawford Capital Ltd., of siphoning money from South Sudan’s treasury and diverting foreign assistance intended to support civilians affected by conflict and economic hardship.
Under the new measures, members of the transitional government accused of impeding the ceasefire agreement and contributing to corruption-linked violence will face visa restrictions under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
Washington also accused the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), controlled by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, of carrying out military operations in northern Jonglei State that displaced an estimated 300,000 people and worsened humanitarian conditions in the region.
According to the statement, the military offensive created conditions that could lead to famine in parts of the country already struggling with food insecurity and displacement.
The U.S. further cited what it described as credible reports of human rights abuses and ethnically motivated killings targeting members of the Nuer community.
The announcement comes amid growing tensions between forces loyal to President Kiir and those aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar, raising renewed fears over the future of the peace agreement signed in 2018.
Regional and international actors have recently expressed concern over escalating political divisions, delays in implementing key provisions of the peace accord, and continued insecurity in several parts of the country.
The revitalized peace agreement formally ended a five-year civil war that erupted in 2013 and killed hundreds of thousands of people while forcing millions from their homes.
However, major provisions of the deal including security sector reforms, transitional justice mechanisms, and preparations for elections remain largely incomplete.
Washington said it would continue using sanctions, visa restrictions, and other measures to hold accountable individuals and entities accused of threatening peace and misusing public resources.
“The United States will continue to stand with the South Sudanese people, who want to live in peace and dignity,” the statement said.
South Sudan’s government had not publicly responded to the latest U.S. measures by Tuesday evening.
