U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced new visa restrictions targeting members of South Sudan’s transitional government, accusing them of systematically obstructing the nation’s peace process and engaging in widespread corruption.
In a statement issued by State Department spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott on May 12, 2026, Washington asserted that these measures, taken under the Immigration and Nationality Act, are a direct response to the government’s failure to implement the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The U.S. specifically highlighted the siphoning of state resources and foreign aid, identifying Crawford Capital Ltd. as a key entity involved in the embezzlement of public funds.
Beyond financial misconduct, the U.S. leveled grave accusations against the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) under President Salva Kiir. The military is accused of launching an offensive in northern Jonglei State that displaced approximately 300,000 people, creating conditions that could lead to widespread famine. The State Department further cited credible reports of human rights violations and ethnically targeted killings against the Nuer community. Washington emphasized that it will continue to use all available diplomatic and financial tools to hold government and military officials accountable for actions that enrich themselves while exacerbating the suffering of the South Sudanese population.
These sanctions arrive at a moment of profound political paralysis as the country approaches its third attempt to hold elections, now scheduled for December 2026. Following multiple postponements in previous years, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has warned that the political transition is on the verge of collapse. The situation is further complicated by the ongoing legal proceedings against First Vice President Riek Machar; the opposition (SPLA-IO) has conditioned its participation in future dialogue on his release, raising fears that the country could slide back into a state of generalized conflict without immediate international intervention.
AC/Sf/lb/abj/APA