The United States announced on Friday that it is imposing visa restrictions on members of the South Sudanese government and others who have obstructed humanitarian aid by taxing shipments.
The State Department cited concerns over the government’s failure to reduce high costs, bureaucratic obstacles, and risks associated with delivering aid, which is crucial during one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
South Sudan, ravaged by civil war from 2013-2018, continues to suffer from persistent conflict, natural disasters, and poverty. U.N. missions have reported that South Sudanese authorities are holding up fuel tankers over a tax dispute, jeopardizing millions of dollars in aid.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller questioned the South Sudanese government’s willingness to honor its 2018 peace agreement commitment to facilitate humanitarian assistance. The visa restrictions would bar those cited from entering the United States.
