Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The United States Embassy in Juba has called on President Salva Kiir’s government to release detained opposition leader Riek Machar and commit domestic resources to the conduct of South Sudan’s long-delayed elections, warning that credible polls cannot take place without urgent political reforms.
In a statement issued on Monday, the embassy said it would view “successful and peaceful elections as a positive step” toward stability but stressed that the current political environment remains incompatible with a credible electoral process.
“If the transitional government truly means to hold elections, we urge that it first create conditions to ensure that the elections are both peaceful and advance the objective of sustainable peace. This requires an immediate return to dialogue among the parties to the 2018 peace agreement,” the statement read.
The U.S. position directly ties the prospects of meaningful dialogue to the status of detained political actors, in an apparent reference to First Vice President Riek Machar, who is currently under arrest and facing trial. Washington warned that inclusive political engagement cannot proceed while key leaders remain in custody.
“Genuine dialogue cannot happen when key leaders are imprisoned, including when the head of the second largest party to the agreement is under arrest and on trial,” the embassy said.
Beyond the political conditions, the United States also took aim at South Sudan’s continued reliance on foreign assistance to fund critical state functions, including elections. It said the government must demonstrate responsibility by financing the electoral process from its own public resources.
“We expect the transitional government to fund elections with its own public resources, just as we expect it to start funding public services and government salaries,” the statement added.
The embassy indicated that future U.S. support—potentially channelled through the United Nations—would depend on whether the government shows commitment to both political reforms and financial responsibility.
While reiterating that it does not seek to impose any political model on South Sudan, Washington said its engagement is guided by priorities including sustainable peace, accountability, and what it described as ending “assistance abuse.”
The statement concluded with a renewed call on South Sudanese leaders to fulfil their obligations under the 2018 peace agreement, warning that delays and political stalemates risk undermining the country’s fragile transition.
“The people of South Sudan have waited long enough for peace,” it said.
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