Juba | 14 May, 2026
South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday pushed back against recent U.S. measures criticizing the country’s peace process, including visa restrictions on certain officials and sanctions on a private company accused of diverting public funds.
The sanctions targeted Crawford Capital Ltd, a company operating a digital revenue collection platform that U.S. authorities claim is tied to politically influential individuals, including relatives of President Salva Kiir.
Although Washington announced visa restrictions, it did not publicly identify the officials affected. Under U.S. law, visa records are generally kept confidential unless individuals are named under separate sanctions programs.
In a statement issued Thursday, South Sudan’s foreign ministry said it was deeply concerned by comments made on May 12 by a U.S. State Department spokesperson regarding the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, formally known as the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The ministry rejected what it described as an inaccurate portrayal of the peace process and called on the United States and other international partners to work constructively with signatories to support democratic transition efforts and preparations for elections.
It also denied accusations of corruption involving humanitarian aid funds, describing the allegations as unproven and repeatedly recycled claims.
According to the ministry, the U.S. visa restrictions could negatively affect ordinary South Sudanese citizens, including students and athletes studying abroad on scholarship programs.
Addressing security concerns, the government defended military operations conducted by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in northern Jonglei State. Officials said the actions were carried out in self-defense after attacks by opposition fighters and armed youth groups between December 2025 and March 2026.
The ministry further dismissed allegations of ethnic targeting and human rights violations, insisting there was no credible evidence to support such claims and stating that the army acted responsibly to protect civilians.
The statement also confirmed that Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. James Pitia Morgan recently met with U.S. Ambassador Michael J. Adler to discuss bilateral ties and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
South Sudan’s government warned that the U.S. statement could encourage armed groups that remain outside the peace agreement and renewed President Salva Kiir’s appeal for holdout factions to join the peace process before elections scheduled for December 2026.
The latest U.S. actions increase pressure on South Sudan’s leadership at a time of political uncertainty. While the 2018 peace agreement formally ended a five-year civil war, key provisions — including security reforms, power-sharing arrangements, and governance structures — remain only partially implemented, raising concerns about possible renewed instability ahead of the planned Dec. 22, 2026 elections.
