South Sudan protests remarks by U.S. presidential candidate  

WASHINGTON, MAY 20, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan on Friday expressed anger over remarks made by United States presidential candidate and former U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley about the world’s youngest country.

In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Haley said that if the FBI is not held accountable for the “Russian hoax,” then the United States will not be different from South Sudan or the Democratic Republic of Congo where there is too much corruption.

“Congress has a job to do, and that is to make sure people are fired and every senior manager over those people gets fired,” she said.

“If not, what makes us any different [from] South Sudan or Democratic Republic of Congo. This kind of corruption happens in those third world countries. It should never happen in America,” she added.

In a statement on reacting to the remarks, South Sudan embassy in Washington said Haley’s remarks were “appalling” and “erroneous.”

“Even though the 2013 civil war in South Sudan weakened institutions, the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU) had taken steps to hold perpetrators who committed crimes accountable,” it said.

The embassy statement went on to also claim that the government of South Sudan has taken “serious steps to combat corruption” by implementing Public Financial Management reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

“The Government has charged and convicted dozens of government officials. Ministers have been removed from offices due to corruption,” the embassy claimed, without being specific, before calling on Haley to apologize for the remarks and to withdraw them.

She is yet to respond to the embassy’s statement.