By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
South Sudan, May 15 , 2026 - South Sudan has strongly rejected new visa restrictions and sanctions announced by the United States, accusing Washington of unfairly portraying the country’s fragile peace process at a time when leaders are trying to prevent fresh conflict.
In a sharp response issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Juba criticised the U.S. government for imposing sanctions and visa bans linked to the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement that ended the country’s civil war.
The U.S. State Department this week accused members of South Sudan’s transitional government of undermining peace efforts and fuelling corruption.
Washington also announced sanctions against Crawford Capital Ltd, a company it claimed had siphoned money from South Sudan’s treasury and diverted foreign aid funds meant to support citizens.
According to the U.S., the transitional government has “for years, impeded implementation” of the peace agreement, leaving the country “on the brink of a return to all-out war.”
The U.S. further accused the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) of conducting military operations in Jonglei State that displaced nearly 300,000 people and risked triggering famine.
There were also allegations of “human rights violations and abuses and ethnically motivated killings of the Nuer people.”
But South Sudan’s government dismissed the accusations as misleading and politically damaging.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said it had received the U.S. statement with “grave concern” and condemned what it called a misrepresentation of the country’s peace process.
Officials in Juba argued that international partners should support dialogue and democratic transition efforts rather than escalate tensions through sanctions.
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The ministry also rejected corruption claims involving humanitarian aid funds, describing them as “recycled and unsubstantiated claims.”
South Sudan further defended military operations carried out by the SSPDF in northern Jonglei, saying troops had acted in self-defence after attacks by opposition forces and armed youth groups between December 2025 and March 2026.
Authorities insisted the army acted with restraint and prioritised civilian protection.
The government also warned that the latest U.S. measures risk hurting ordinary citizens more than political leaders.
According to the ministry, students, athletes and other South Sudanese citizens with links to the United States could be affected by the visa restrictions.
The ministry said Foreign Affairs Minister Dr James Pitia Morgan had already met U.S. Ambassador Michael J. Adler to discuss ways of improving relations and cooperation between the two countries.
At the centre of the dispute is South Sudan’s delayed peace process ahead of elections planned for December 2026.
Although the 2018 peace agreement formally ended five years of civil war, key issues, including security reforms, power-sharing and governance arrangements, remain unresolved.
The latest diplomatic clash now adds fresh pressure on President Salva Kiir’s government as fears of renewed instability continue to grow in the world’s youngest nation.