President Donald J. Trump
Tuesday, 12 May 2026 | Author: Andrew Michael | File Photo| GT-News |
The United States has imposed visa restrictions on members of South Sudan’s transitional government, accusing them of obstructing the country’s peace process, fuelling corruption and contributing to violence that threatens to plunge the nation back into war.
In a statement on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures targeted officials believed to have undermined the 2018 peace agreement that ended South Sudan’s devastating five-year civil war.
Washington said South Sudan’s transitional government had “for years” delayed implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), leaving the country “on the brink of a return to all-out war”.
The US did not immediately publish the names of those affected by the visa restrictions.
The statement also accused senior officials and business entities of corruption, alleging that funds from the state treasury and foreign aid intended for ordinary South Sudanese had been diverted.
Among the entities named was Crawford Capital Ltd., which the US linked to alleged financial misconduct.
The United States further accused the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), which is loyal to President Salva Kiir, of carrying out a military offensive in northern Jonglei State that displaced about 300,000 people and increased the risk of famine in parts of the country.
It also cited what it described as credible reports of human rights abuses and ethnically targeted killings against members of the Nuer community.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but descended into civil war two years later following a political dispute between President Kiir and his rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar.
The conflict killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions before a peace deal was signed in 2018.
However, key parts of the agreement — including security reforms, the drafting of a permanent constitution and preparations for long-delayed elections — have repeatedly stalled.
Tensions have risen in recent months amid renewed clashes in some areas and growing concern among regional and international observers about the future of the fragile unity government.
“The United States will continue to stand with the South Sudanese people, who want to live in peace and dignity,” Mr Rubio said, adding that Washington would continue pursuing accountability measures against individuals accused of threatening peace and stability in the country.
