Trump administration halts foreign assistance in South Sudan’s Ayod County amid abuse claims

The US government has suspended its foreign assistance in Ayod County, Jonglei State, South Sudan, citing alleged ongoing abuse, exploitation, and theft by South Sudanese officials at the national, state, and county levels.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Juba also said it is reviewing its assistance in Western Bahr el-Ghazal State and considering significant reductions.

"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," the statement says.

The statement highlights an incident on January 2, when the Ayod County Commissioner detained an aid worker who refused an illegal request to surrender assets from a US foreign assistance partner. It also noted that, since last November, the Western Bahr el-Ghazal State Minister of Health has blocked the transfer of pharmaceutical supplies from one US foreign assistance partner to another, while Transitional Government officials have ignored repeated requests to release the supplies.

The US said the action demonstrates the country’s determination to respond decisively when South Sudanese officials exploit US aid instead of working in partnership to assist the South Sudanese people.

"The United States has provided over USD 9.5 billion in foreign assistance to South Sudan since its independence in 2011. We call 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 Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for theft and diversion of life-saving assistance," it added.

The decision comes hours after the Trump administration announced a pause on all assistance programmes benefiting the Somali Federal Government, warning that resumption would depend on the Somali government taking accountability for officials who illegally seized tons of food aid for vulnerable Somalis.

The move followed reports that Somali Federal Government officials destroyed a US-funded World Food Programme warehouse and illegally seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid.

"The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance," the US reiterated.

Source: https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/sudan/267957/trump-administration-halts-foreign-assistance-in-south-sudans-ayod-county-amid-abuse-claims