JUBA, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan said on Friday the recently imposed sanctions by the United States on some of its officials undermines peace progress.
Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information, accused Washington of obstructing the ongoing peace implementation process by imposing sanctions and visa restrictions on individuals it claims are failing the still-fragile peace process.
"The position of the American government is very clear, they are not for peace in South Sudan. Whenever they see progress happening in South Sudan they tend to dilute it," Makuei told journalists in Juba, after another meeting between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.
Washington recently also recalled back Thomas Hushek, the envoy to South Sudan, for further consultations after Kiir and Machar failed to form the transitional unity government on Nov.12.
"If they want peace in South Sudan, there is no reason for them every time when we are making progress to come up with something to dilute whatever progress is being made," he added.
The U.S. has since 2017 slapped sanctions and travel restrictions on both government and opposition officials on the pretext that they have been fueling the five-year conflict and also obstructing implementation of the revitalized peace deal signed in September 2018 in Ethiopia.
Mike Pompeo, U.S Secretary of State on Thursday, said they will deny visas to individuals who undermine or impede the peace process in South Sudan.
Pompeo's remarks came in the wake of the recent travel restriction imposed by the U.S State Department on five South Sudanese intelligence officials accused of masterminding the 2017 kidnapping of two government critics in the Kenyan capital.
The U.S blames the five officials for the murder of Aggrey Idri, a member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by Machar and Dong Samuel Luak a human rights lawyer in Juba which the government denies.
"Well, of course, that is the position of the American government they are free to decide on whatever to do but for us here we are not even interested in traveling," Makuei disclosed.
He added that the sanctions target the government officials but left out its critics like former army chief Paul Malong who was also sanctioned by the U.S to move freely without restrictions.
"If Americans were interested in peace implementation, they would have not been putting all these obstacles to obstruct the (peace) process, the paradox is that they are restricting others and meanwhile, Paul Malong whom they have sanctioned is now moving free and they are not questioning him," said Makuei.
South Sudan descended into conflict in December 2013, after President Salva Kiir sacked his deputy Machar leading to fighting between soldiers loyal to the respective leaders.
Kiir and Machar are expected to form the transitional unity government in February 2020.
Newer news items:
- Sudan’s Ousted Leader Faces Verdict in Corruption Trial - 13/12/2019
- UNHCR head appeals to South Sudan parties to ensure long-lasting peace - 13/12/2019
- Situation in South Sudan - Report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/936) - 13/12/2019
- South Sudan's devastating floods: why they happen and why they need a coherent national policy - 13/12/2019
- South Sudan allocates $40M to help integrate rival forces - 13/12/2019
Older news items:
- Mobile courts deliver long-awaited justice in remote parts of South Sudan - 12/12/2019
- U.S. Threatens Visa Restrictions Over South Sudan Peace Process - 12/12/2019
- South Sudan faces famine after 'catastrophic' floods: WFP - 12/12/2019
- South Sudan joins Global Network to launch Accelerator Lab and Human Development Report 2019 - 12/12/2019
- South Sudan rivals hold rare meeting as peace deal stalls - 11/12/2019
Popular news items:
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 - Read 19941 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - Bikya Masr - 01/04/2012 - Read 17498 times
- Former Lost Boy Gives Back to South Sudan - Care2.com (blog) - 31/05/2012 - Read 15723 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 - Read 14892 times
- With prisons full, South Sudan to introduce mobile courts to clear backlog of ... - Washington Post - 11/10/2012 - Read 12373 times