JUBA — The South Sudan government has rejected several characterizations made by the United States about the operating environment for humanitarian organizations in the country, while reaffirming its commitment to addressing concerns through direct engagement.
This came after the U.S. statement accused officials at national, state, and local levels of obstructing humanitarian assistance and imposing costs and risks on aid organizations.
Washington also said it could use measures including sanctions and visa restrictions to address what it described as obstruction of humanitarian assistance.
In a response to a statement issued on September 20 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, the South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected what it described as broad characterizations of the conduct of South Sudanese officials.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said complaints involving aid access, administrative requirements, security, or individual officials should be handled through the appropriate channels and based on specific facts.
“The government does not consider it appropriate to make broad generalizations about the conduct of officials at national, state, or local levels,” the ministry said.
It added that the government does not accept the descriptions contained in the U.S. statement, particularly those concerning public revenue and the causes of the country’s humanitarian crisis.
“The government also does not accept a number of the characterizations contained in the statement, including those concerning the management of public revenue and the causes of the humanitarian situation in the country,” it said.
The ministry said it would continue addressing disagreements with Washington through what it described as direct and constructive engagement, rather than broad public characterizations.
“The government appreciates the support provided by the United States. We value our bilateral relationship and will continue to address matters of mutual concern through direct and constructive engagement,” the ministry said.
The exchange comes as humanitarian needs remain high across South Sudan.
The World Food Programme said in September that conflict, displacement, economic hardship, climate shocks, and the crisis in neighboring Sudan were pushing millions of people deeper into vulnerability.
The U.S. warning and South Sudan’s response now put humanitarian access and the wider bilateral relationship between Juba and Washington under renewed scrutiny.
