USAID Official Urges Dialogue Among South Sudan Leaders to Boost Peace Efforts

A senior security official from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has called on South Sudan’s principal leaders to engage in direct dialogue, emphasizing that such engagement would attract external support and build the trust and confidence necessary for peace implementation.

Colin Thomas-Jensen, USAID’s National Security Director, addressed reporters in Juba on Friday, urging President Salva Kiir, First Vice President Riek Machar, and all members of the presidency to demonstrate a strong commitment to the peace process.

Thomas-Jensen’s visit to South Sudan, which spanned from May 21 to May 24, included meetings with various stakeholders to discuss the country’s upcoming elections and ongoing peace efforts. He was accompanied by Mark Billera, USAID’s Acting Assistant Administrator.

“The purpose of our trip is to call for urgent action to create the conditions necessary for genuine and peaceful elections,” Thomas-Jensen stated. He emphasized that the dialogue must include all stakeholders but be led by the key leaders in the peace process.

“This includes addressing the lack of political and civic space, ensuring politically neutral and unified forces, and fully funding and operationalizing necessary electoral institutions.”

Thomas-Jensen highlighted the importance of direct dialogue among the transitional government leaders. “Launching this dialogue will send a positive signal of commitment and seriousness to implement the agreement and assure genuine and peaceful elections,” he noted.

This, he argued, would demonstrate to both South Sudanese citizens and international donors that the country’s leaders are dedicated to peace and rejecting violence as a political tool.

In his appeal, Thomas-Jensen urged the Juba government to implement tax exemptions for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and diplomatic missions.

He stressed that imposing taxes and fees on humanitarian assistance diverts aid from the South Sudanese people in need.

Reflecting on the longstanding U.S.

engagement in South Sudan, Thomas-Jensen underscored that it is rooted in values such as peace, human rights, democracy, and the right of the people to choose leaders responsive to their needs.

South Sudan is scheduled to hold its first general elections in December 2024 as mandated by the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

However, observers and political opposition leaders have highlighted the need for the full implementation of security arrangements and other key provisions to create an enabling environment for the elections.