South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday rejected a U.S. State Department statement criticising the implementation of the country’s peace agreement and announcing visa restrictions on government officials, as well as sanctions targeting Crawford Capital Ltd, which Washington said has siphoned funds from South Sudan’s treasury.
The private company, which operates a digital revenue collection platform, is reportedly linked to politically connected individuals, including members of the president’s family.
The U.S. did not name the South Sudanese government officials affected by the visa restrictions in its public announcement. Visa records are generally confidential under U.S. law, and Washington typically withholds names in such actions unless individuals are separately designated under other authorities.
In a statement, the foreign ministry said it “received with grave concern” comments issued on May 12 by a U.S. State Department spokesperson on the status of implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), as well as the visa restrictions and sanctions.
The ministry “denounced” what it called a mischaracterisation of the peace process and urged Washington and international partners to engage “constructively” with parties to the agreement to support elections and a democratic transition.
It rejected allegations of corruption involving humanitarian assistance funds, describing them as “recycled and unsubstantiated claims.”
The statement said the U.S. visa restrictions would affect ordinary South Sudanese citizens, including students and athletes on scholarships, adding they were among those Washington had previously described as friends of the United States.
On security, the ministry defended operations by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in northern Jonglei state, saying they were carried out in self-defence following attacks by opposition forces and armed youth groups between December 2025 and March 2026.
It also dismissed allegations of human rights abuses and ethnic targeting as “unfounded” and without credible evidence, saying the army acted with restraint and prioritised civilian protection.
The ministry said Foreign Minister Dr. James Pitia Morgan met U.S. Ambassador Michael J. Adler to discuss bilateral relations and ways to improve cooperation.
It cautioned that the U.S. statement could “incite” armed groups outside the peace process, and reiterated President Salva Kiir’s call for holdout groups to join the agreement ahead of planned elections in December 2026.
The measures add U.S. pressure on South Sudan’s political leadership at a volatile moment for the world’s youngest country, where a 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war remains only partly implemented.
Long-delayed elections have been scheduled for Dec. 22, 2026, while unresolved disputes over security arrangements, power-sharing and the structure of President Salva Kiir’s government continue to fuel fears of renewed instability.
