BREAKING!! Tension: South Sudan in Trouble As US ends financial assistance, warns of consequences

Washington, DC, December 13, 2018 (SSNA) — The United States has announced on Thursday that it is ending financial assistance to South Sudanese government, saying the young nation is being led by “corrupt leaders” who cause suffering to their people.

The announcement comes as President Trump’s administration rolls out its new African strategy to deal with what the administration described as ‘predatory behavior’.

In a statement released on Thursday and obtained by the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA), the U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton makes the surprising announcement at the influential conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation. Bolton told an audience that American “hard-earned” taxpayer money will not go in the pockets of “corrupt autocrats” at the expense of their people.

“…We will not provide loans or more American resources to a South Sudanese government led by the same morally bankrupt leaders, who perpetuate the horrific violence and immense human suffering in South Sudan,” Bolton says.

Bolton disclosed that the United States provides billions of dollars to South Sudan and that between 2014 and 2018 alone, Washington provided approximately $3.76 billion dollars in humanitarian aid to Juba. Bolton warned that nations that receive US aid “without effect, assistance without accountability, and relief without reform” should expect changes.

In his speech, the American National Security Advisor said the armed conflict in South Sudan killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions. He also warned that other African countries receiving US aid to enrich themselves and cause suffering to their people will meet the same fate.

Bolton also revealed that the United States will not fund United Nations peacekeepers who are poorly-equipped, provide insufficient protection to vulnerable populations, and involve in human rights violations.

Numerous US-based, international rights organizations, and arms control agencies have in the past accused the United States under Former President Barack Obama of doing nothing to end the war in South Sudan. Some groups even accused the former American leader of allowing South Sudanese government to obtain weapons and ammunition through Uganda.

In February, the United Statesimposed an arms embargo on South Sudan, sanctioned state-owned oil entities and individuals in March, and successfully helped pushed a UN Security Council arms ban in May.