The South Sudanese government has said it is dismayed by the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on three current and former officials.
The sanctions include a travel ban and freezing of assets tied to the U.S. financial system.
Following that move, Juba summoned the U.S. charge’ de Affairs to explain the rationale behind the move.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the sanctions will not help in pacifying the East African country.
“There is no evidence that any of the three sanctioned officials blocked peace, and I challenge anybody to bring that evidence. These were people conducting or performing their duties in whatever assignment they were doing,” Undersecretary South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bak Valentino Akol said.
The government has officially handed over a written protest letter about the sanctions to U.S. officials in Juba.
Nine military and political leaders from both sides of the conflict in South Sudan have been sanctioned since war broke out in 2013.
