Monday, 21 September 2026 | Author: Andrew Michael Angelo | Photo Credit: File|
The United States has threatened sanctions and visa restrictions against South Sudanese officials accused of obstructing humanitarian aid in the country.
Washington said it would use “all the tools available” to tackle what it described as interference with humanitarian operations and the use of aid as a source of revenue.
The warning was issued on Sunday by the US Bureau of African Affairs, which accused officials at national, state and local levels of increasing the costs and risks faced by humanitarian organisations.
“The United States has, and continues to be, the largest provider of humanitarian assistance to the people of South Sudan,” the bureau said.
It urged South Sudan’s transitional government to address what it called the “man-made drivers” of the country’s humanitarian crisis, including political violence and the failure to use public revenue to provide basic services and meet humanitarian needs.
The US also criticised the failure to pay public-sector salaries, saying government resources should be used to respond to the needs of the population.
“We will use all the tools available to us, including sanctions and visa restrictions,” the statement said.
Washington said its measures were intended to address what it described as impunity, which it linked to the dangerous operating environment facing humanitarian workers.
South Sudan remains heavily dependent on international aid, with millions of people facing food insecurity and limited access to essential services amid conflict and displacement.
The US said the conduct of South Sudanese authorities towards humanitarian organisations would continue to influence decisions over where its foreign assistance is directed.
The statement puts renewed pressure on South Sudan’s transitional government, which is already facing international scrutiny over insecurity, political tensions and the implementation of its peace agreement.
South Sudanese authorities have previously said humanitarian organisations must comply with national laws and regulations, while aid agencies have raised co
