This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
On November 25, 2019, the US government recalled its ambassador to South Sudan, Thomas Hushek, in a move that has left President Salva Kiir's government reeling.
The decision was made after the US became frustrated with the failure of Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to form a transitional government, as agreed upon in the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) signed on September 12, 2018.
Washington's move has been seen as a strong signal that it does not support the decision to allow more time for the country's political protagonists to form a unity government.
According to a UN Panel of Experts on South Sudan, Juba had recruited about 10,000 new soldiers during the transitional period, despite the R-ARCSS requiring that certain measures be taken to retrain, canton, and merge forces first.
The US has also imposed sanctions on certain South Sudanese warlords, seen to have violated ceasefire agreements, including South Sudan Army chief Gabriel Jok Riak and former military chief Gen Paul Malong.
South Sudan's neighbours, including Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, have been criticized for aiding the flop in sanctions, with the Panel charging that President Kiir is specifically profiting from the region's reluctance to enforce sanctions imposed on warlords.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had torn into President Kiir, questioning his political will and saying they were calling back their envoy to 're-evaluate' their relationship with Juba.
"We will work with the region to support efforts to achieve peace and a successful political transition in South Sudan," Mr Pompeo said.
