The United States regrets the failure of South Sudanese leaders to implement the commitments they made to bring peace to South Sudan and, accordingly, decided to end US assistance to the peace process monitoring mechanisms effective 15 July as we assess the next steps.
Due to the lack of sustained progress on the part of South Sudan’s leaders, and after consultation with Congress, the United States is ending support for the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission and the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism for Ceasefires and Transitional Security. South Sudan’s leaders have not fully leveraged the support these monitoring mechanisms provide and have demonstrated a lack of the political will needed to implement critical reforms. For example, South Sudan has yet to pass critical electoral legislation according to the timeline of the revitalized peace agreement. South Sudan still lacks a unified and professional military to serve and protect the population. Members of civil society and journalists are routinely intimidated and prevented from speaking. The government continues to divert revenues from oil production before they reach the national budget and has not implemented public financial management reforms.
The United States continues to provide significant assistance to save lives and reduce the suffering of the people of South Sudan, including approximately $1 billion in humanitarian and development assistance, support for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and assistance additional funding in coordination with partners through the World Bank and other international financial institutions.
The United States supports the people of South Sudan and is committed to working with them, together with UNMISS, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and other partners to build a state that delivers on the promises of freedom, democracy, and prosperity achieved more than a decade ago, when the country won its arduous struggle for independence.