U.S. Considers Reducing Assistance to South Sudan Due to Humanitarian Charges

The United States has issued a serious warning to South Sudan, threatening significant reductions in foreign aid unless the government stops imposing what it considers illicit and excessive fees on humanitarian shipments. In a statement titled “Time to Stop Taking Advantage of the United States,” the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs condemned the South Sudanese government for obstructing humanitarian efforts and U.N. peacekeeping operations, asserting that such actions violate international obligations.

As South Sudan’s largest humanitarian donor, the U.S. has already made sharp cuts to aid this year and plans a comprehensive review of assistance if the fees are not removed immediately. This situation arises amid ongoing conflict in South Sudan, which has faced civil war and political inility since its independence in 2011. Despite the formal conclusion of a five-year civil war in 2018, inility persists throughout the country.

A recent U.N. report highlighted corruption among political elites as a primary factor driving the ongoing humanitarian crisis, while the South Sudanese government attributes the crisis to conflict, climate ce, and regional oil disruptions. Since its independence, the U.S. has provided over $9.5 billion in aid to South Sudan, while the government has reportedly earned around $25 billion in oil revenue without enhancing basic public services.

The U.S. has urged South Sudan’s leadership to ensure transparency and cooperate to better support the country’s vulnerable populations. As of now, the South Sudanese government has not publicly addressed these allegations.