Top U.S. Department of State official to visit South Sudan this week

January 13, 2020 East Africa, Kenya, Newsbeat, Uganda, USA

The United States’ Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, (Photo: Supplied)

January 14th, 2020 (SSNN)—The United States’ Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, is expected to visit, among other African countries, South Sudan in a bid to push for the implementation of the peace agreement and to augment accountability efforts .

The U.S. Department of State urged South Sudan’s ‘credible leaders’ to make concessions to end the month-long deadlock on outstanding issues and build on the ongoing peace accord signed in 2018.

“The U.S. is committed to protecting human rights and determined to promote accountability of South Sudan peace process spoilers. Credible leaders should make all necessary compromises to build the framework for peace in South Sudan,” Nagy stated in a statement.

While in Africa, the US official is expected to address a wide range of issues, including good governance, promotion of human rights, and eradication of corruption in African countries.

“His visit will emphasize the importance of promoting good governance and strong democratic institutions, advancing regional peace and security, combatting corruption, and forging stronger trade and investment ties,” the Department of State said in its statement.

Aside from South Sudan, the United States’ top diplomat will travel to the CAR, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan from January 15-29, 2020.

South Sudan’s government and opposition groups have been invited by IGAD for another round of Consultation Meetings on the Number of States and their Boundaries, a key sticking point preventing the formation of a unity government.