Visa restrictions are being imposed on a number of individuals, especially leaders and government officials in South Sudan who are believed to be undermining the country’s peace process.
An official statement from the U.S Department of States reveals that the United States was announcing steps to impose visa restrictions on multiple individuals responsible for or complicit in, undermining and impeding a sustainable peace in the new Republic of South Sudan.
“We note the continued failure of South Sudan’s leaders to use their nation’s resources to the benefit of its people, their failure to end public corruption and elite capture of the country’s resources, their failure to protect the people of South Sudan from abuses and violations of their human rights, including civil and political rights, and their failure to maintain peace.”
According to the statement, the United States had hoped to join the people of South Sudan in December 2024 in celebrating their country’s first election since the creation of an independent Republic of South Sudan.
“Instead, we mark another missed opportunity for the transitional government of South Sudan to bring the cycle of election delays to an end and respect the people of South Sudan,” says the department report.
South Sudan became an independent state in July 2011 and was to conduct the country’s first General elections in December 2024. It is a member of the East African Community, pivoted in Arusha Tanzania.
“Today’s actions demonstrate the United States’ continued support for the people of South Sudan and their aspirations to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, and our ongoing commitment to promote accountability for those failing to maintain peace,” the release adds.
This is the third tranche of actions taken pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and National Act under the policy announced in 2019 for individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining and impeding a sustainable peace in South Sudan, along with their family members.