Washington,
USA
The
United States said it will impose visa restrictions against those who undermine
or impede the peace process in South Sudan.
The decision—which will limit the ability of
affected South Sudanese officials to travel to the US—comes weeks after
Washington said it was re-evaluating its relationship with South Sudan after
the country's leaders failed to form a unity government last month.
President Salva Kiir (R) shakes hands with the opposition leader Riek Machar |
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement
today that as the United States re-evaluates its bilateral relationship with
the government of South Sudan, the Department of State will implement visa
restrictions under Immigration and Nationality Act Section 212(a)(3)(C) against
those who undermine or impede the peace process in South Sudan.
"Such visa restrictions could include
immediate family members of these individuals," he added.
The statement did not specify how many or which
officials will be targeted.
Pompeo stressed that the people of South Sudan
have suffered enough while their leaders delay the implementation of a
sustainable peace, saying that the South Sudanese deserve leaders who are
committed to building consensus and willing to compromise for the greater
good.
The United States, the top humanitarian donor
to South Sudan, recalled its ambassador to Juba last month after President
Salva Kiir and opposition leaders failed to form a transitional government.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration imposed
sanctions on five South Sudanese security agents, who it says are responsible
for the killing of two critics in 2017.
On November 12, President Salva Kiir and
opposition leader Riek Machar were given 100 days to resolve their differences
and form a unity government.
President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek
Machar and a handful of other groups signed the peace deal in September 2018.
However the parties have failed to create a unified army and determine the
number of states since the deal was signed. - Africa
The ongoing war in South Sudan is the main reason why the US have imposed a US visa restriction to the national of the said country. The US fear that if they let the nationals of the country travel in the US then they will most likely to to inflict terror in the US.
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