Thursday, 8 January 2026
The United States government announced the suspension of U.S. foreign assistance in Ayod County, Jonglei State, and called on the transitional government to stop imposing illicit costs on those trying to help the South Sudanese people.
The U.S. government, in a statement seen by this news outlet, said it is also reviewing its assistance in Western Bahr el-Ghazal State and considering significant reductions.
“Today’s actions demonstrate U.S. resolve to forcefully respond when South Sudanese officials take advantage of the United States instead of working in partnership with us to help the South Sudanese people,” the statement partly read.
The U.S. government said these steps are consistent with the December 11 statement by the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs that called on the transitional government to stop imposing illicit costs on those trying to help the South Sudanese people.
“They follow continued abuse, exploitation, and theft directed against U.S. foreign assistance by South Sudanese officials at national, state, and county levels.”
On January 2, the Ayod County Commissioner allegedly detained an aid worker who refused an illegal request to surrender assets from a U.S. foreign assistance partner.
Since last November, the Western Baht el-Ghazal State Minister of Health has reportedly prevented the transfer of pharmaceutical supplies from one U.S. foreign assistance partner to another.
“Transitional government officials have ignored repeated requests to release the supplies,” according to the United States government.
The United States has provided over $9.5 billion in foreign assistance to South Sudan since its independence in 2011.
The U.S. government called on the transitional government to take immediate remedial steps, starting by holding accountable all South Sudanese officials who have interfered with or imposed illicit costs on U.S. foreign assistance.
The statement warned that the Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for theft and diversion of life-saving assistance.
South Sudan heavily relies on foreign assistance, mainly provided by the Troika member countries and the European Union.
South Sudan has been troubled by internal conflicts and insurgencies brought about by what the political analysts termed as ‘bad governance’ coupled with the lack of political will to implement the fragile revitalised peace agreement.
The country is experiencing persistent political instability, rampant corruption, a humanitarian crisis, and the spillover from the conflict in neighbouring Sudan added burden to already broken basic infrastructures such as health and education.
leading to warnings of renewed civil war despite efforts to implement peace agreements and build national capacity.
