American senate passes resolution to review US policy on South Sudan

WASHINGTON – The United States Senate has passed a resolution that will now see the American government reviewing its foreign policy on South Sudan amid violence and corruption.

Senator James Risch and Senator Cory Booker drafted the resolution in September.

They said South Sudan leaders “have consistently failed to uphold their responsibilities to create the conditions for peace and prosperity, have prioritized self-preservation and corruption over the needs of the people they represent.”

They also accused the South Sudanese leaders of having “acted in bad faith in the implementation of cease-fire and peace agreements, and have betrayed the cause of freedom, resulting in the loss of millions of innocent lives.”

On Thursday, the Senate voted unanimously to pass the S. Res. 380 that now reiterates United States support for the people of the Republic of South Sudan in their quest for lasting peace, stability, and democracy after 10 years of independence.

The resolution also “calls for a review of U.S. policy toward South Sudan given the persistent intercommunal violence, humanitarian crisis, and corruption in the country and the lack of political will by its leaders to genuinely commit to peace and democracy and resolve outstanding issues.”

In a statement, the authors of the resolution welcomed the resolution’s passing.

“Yesterday’s unanimous passage of this important resolution by the full Senate is a testament to our need to drastically reorient U.S. policy toward South Sudan. We must encourage sustainable peace, anti-corruption, and progress toward democracy – all of which the South Sudanese people have long-suffered for,” said Risch.

“South Sudan’s leaders have failed them, and so have we. We cannot continue to invest more than $1 billion per year in critical assistance to the South Sudanese people without holding South Sudan’s leaders accountable for their self-serving role in perpetuating conflict, corruption, and humanitarian catastrophe,” he added

Booker for his part said: “As yesterday’s unanimous passage in the Senate shows, there is bipartisan consensus that the United States must support the people of South Sudan as they continue their long fight for democracy and stability 10 years after their country’s independence.”

“This resolution supports the South Sudanese people’s fight and also calls on the United States to review its policy toward the South Sudanese government, especially as we see continued corruption and violence that undermine the prospect of peace in the country.”