Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The government of South Sudan has criticized the US government for failing to acknowledge the progress made in the country.
Government spokesperson, Michael Makuei said President Joe Biden’s extension of the national emergency on South Sudan was based on ‘cut and paste,” implying that the US is out of touch with what is going on in the country at the moment.
Makuei also accused Washington of failing to review the current progress being made by Juba.
Biden over the weekend said the situation in South Sudan continues to pose a great threat to the national security of the United States.
He said the national emergency declared on April 3, 2014, must continue in effect beyond April 3, 2022.
“The situation, in relation to South Sudan, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared on April 3, 2014, must continue in effect beyond April 3, 2022,” the statement read.
“Therefore, in accordance with Section 202 (d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622 (d), I am continuing for one year, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13664.” Biden said
With this national emergency, President Joe Biden can impose further sanctions on South Sudan and the members of its government.
Also, this means Washington, which, the penholder on South Sudan at the Security Council, will continue to seek international sanctions on South Sudan’s warring parties.
Makuei said the US did not take into consideration the progress made by the South Sudan government.
He added that the Biden administration should not rely on old data to make important decisions that affect the country.
“There is no change in the wording.” It is just the same words that were used last year, and this same word has been used this year only that the date is changed,” Makeui said.
Makeui reiterated that the US and the Security Council failed to evaluate the positive steps taken by the South Sudan government.
“Instead of acting on a one-sided report, why not counter-check and also let us know or respond to whatever report?” posed Makuei.
“It is cut and paste.”
“They do not even give themselves time to look and evaluate what is happening on the ground so that you eliminate some of the points or some of the issues that were mentioned in the previous notice,” he added.
In 2020, former US President Donald Trump extended the national emergency declared in South Sudan in April 2014, saying the situation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security of the United States.
“The situation in and in relation to South Sudan continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared on April 3, 2014, to deal with that threat, must continue in effect beyond April 3, 2020,” the White House had said during President Trump’s administration.
Makeui argued that the continuation of the national emergency in South Sudan could obstruct the implementation of the peace agreement.
“To me, I see this as another way of obstructing the implementation of the peace agreement by those who are here in South Sudan,” he said.
He urged those who report about South Sudan to at least make an accurate report, including the achievements made by the government.
“The UNSC has also been unfair; whenever a report goes to them, they just act on it,” he said
On his part, Deng Dau, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said South Sudan does not deserve such action from the US president as the situation has improved in the country.
Deng added that the country has taken many positive steps in the implementation of R-ARCSS, and access to humanitarian and human rights situations, among others.
“On implementation of the peace agreement, the parties continue to redouble efforts to implement the agreement, adding that they have made many efforts to bring peace to the country,” he said.
“The formulators of such allegations did not care to inform themselves about the significant strides that South Sudan has made ever since the signing of R-ARCSS,” Deng added.
He added that the statement issued by the United States is a mere repetition of the previous statement.
“The government of South Sudan deplores this statement, which is merely a regurgitation of the 2014 situation,” he stated.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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