South Sudan accuses U.S. and allies of meddling in internal affairs

JUBA — South Sudan government on Friday accused Western countries, led by the United States, of meddling in its internal affairs and questioned their motives.

This came after embassies of Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States voiced concerns over the passage the controversial National Security Service Act 2014 (Amendment Bill 2024) granting secret agents powers to monitor, search, arrest and detain without warrants.

A joint press statement issued on Wednesday by the foreign diplomats said the passage of the bill would jeopardize the opening of political and civic space.

Mr. Wol Mayar, Spokesman of Ministry Foreign Affairs described the joint press statement as ‘unjustified direct interference’ in matters of national concern.

 “It is therefore viewed as unjustified direct interference in matters of national concerns that seems to be a blatant move designed to undermine and incite the public opinion in the country against the authorities which shows clear intension to undermine the government and pose direct threat to national security of the Republic of South Sudan,” Mayar told reporters during a press conference in Juba on Friday.

Mayar said such behavior shows Western ambassadors in Juba were meddling in the country’s affairs rather than doing their diplomatic work.

“According to diplomatic norms, article 41 (1/2) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relation, 1961, says all accredited missions and international organizations are supposed to abide by laws and regulations of the host country,” Mayar said.

He advised the foreign mission to concentrate on doing their diplomatic work, and ensure maintenance of cordial relations and good conduct of diplomacy that do not undermine internal affairs of the host state.

He said the ministry protested and condemned what it called “unacceptable behaviors” and urged foreign embassies to adhere to normal norms of conducting diplomatic practice.

He urged western diplomats to desist from deliberate involvement in unfriendly statements and hostile’s statement which are unacceptable by the government.

Director of International Law and Treaties, Mr. Akech Chol said South Sudan is a sovereign state which ought to be treated as one.

“You must talk about international law and that’s how you must recognize in your mind that South Sudan is a sovereign state and a sovereign state ought to be treated as a sovereign state, that’s all what we are saying,” Chol said.

“Our partners or the other missions, we are cooperating within the framework of cooperation and if they have concern, they should consult us before they issue a statement, that’s all what we are saying.”