US iterates support for peaceful transition in S. Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan

The U.S. will continue supporting a peaceful transition to a government of national unity in South Sudan, the nation’s ambassador in Juba said on Wednesday.

“I remain convinced that given sufficient political and good leadership, South Sudan can and will achieve a peaceful transition. The United states remain committed to help the South Sudanese people to achieve that result,” Thomas Hushek told reporters in a new conference in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, on Wednesday.

He expressed hope that the elected government will act responsibly, respect the rights of its citizens, promote the national development, and prevent corruption and conflict.

The U.S. has been cooperating with South Sudan, Hushek said, but pointing the disagreement on the issues of conflict and corruption in the East African country.

The U.S. ambassador called on the parties to the peace agreement to maintain ongoing commitment and inclusive dialogue to resolve remaining differences, including a decision on the number and boundaries of the states.

“The parties should recommit to protect humanitarian workers and also release the funds committed for the implementation of this agreement and manage these in a fully transparent manner,” he said.

Hushek urged the parties to peace agreement to establish and enforce realistic and well-defined timelines to implement the agreement and to provide the public with regular updates and start the process to amend the constitution to incorporate the peace agreement.

He also expressed the disappointment of the U.S. over the failure of talks between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar for establishing a unity government by Nov. 12.

Kiir and Machar were expected to form a unified transitional government by Nov. 12, in line with a September 2018 peace deal aimed at ending six years of conflict.

They recently extended for the second time the pre-transitional period for 100 days to allow critical tasks to be completed.

The president said he accepted the extension to avoid the risk of returning to war.

Hushek said he was called back by his government to meet with all government officials to discuss the measures needed to discourage obstruction by all parties towards the peace process.

The talks also discussed the establishment of an inclusive unity government ready to tackle the many tasks awaiting South Sudan during transition period.

On Monday, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned two South Sudanese officials “for expanding or extending the conflict in South Sudan including by obstructing the reconciliation process or peace talks.”

Hushek said it was among the outcomes of his talks with officials in the U.S.

South Sudan slid into crisis when Kiir sacked Machar as vice president in December 2013 on suspicion of plotting a coup, followed by a protracted civil war that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and forced four million people to flee their homes.

Before the 2018 peace deal, five years of fighting between the two leaders crippled the country, with millions displaced and almost 400,000 people dead from violence and disease.