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US warns South Sudan to end its nearly four-year war

Tuesday, 28 November 2017 7:25 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 28 November 2017 7:26 PM ]

US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, talks to staff members of the US embassy in Juba, South Sudan, on October 25, 2017. (AFP photo)

The US government has threatened to take unspecified measures against South Sudan unless it moves to end the nearly four-year war and stop harassing United Nations peacekeepers and international aid workers.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Tuesday put the responsibility squarely on South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to take action, telling the UN Security Council that "words are no longer sufficient."

"The United States is prepared to pursue additional measures against the government - or any party, for that matter - if they do not act to end the violence and ease the suffering in South Sudan," Haley said.

"Going forward the United States will judge President Kiir and his government by their actions, not their words," she said.

Last year, Washington unsuccessfully pushed for an arms embargo on South Sudan and international sanctions on senior officials.

Haley said Kiir must uphold ceasefires, join a new regional peace initiative, stop placing restrictions on UN peacekeepers and allow access for aid groups.

A report released Tuesday by UN monitors accused South Sudan’s government of using food aid as a weapon of war during its campaign against opposition forces in the northwestern city of Wau.

After aid finally reached civilians in August, the first time in a year, humanitarian workers "witnessed significantly high levels of malnutrition, with high rates of severe acute malnutrition," the report said.

Between January and September, 164 young children and elderly persons died from hunger and disease in that area, it said.

The United States is South Sudan's biggest aid provider and a key supporter of its 2011 independence from Sudan. Haley traveled to South Sudan in October and held talks with Kiir, becoming the highest level US administration official to visit Juba.

South Sudan has been gripped by conflict since his main deputy and current opposition leader Riek Machar defected in December 2013 over allegations of plotting a coup.

Tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced in the conflict. Machar was forced into exile in South Africa but forces loyal to him still operate in Pagak and other regions of the world’s youngest country.

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