25 October 2017•Update: 25 October 2017
By Parach Mach
JUBA, South Sudan
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations arrived in South Sudan on Wednesday for talks aimed at ending the civil war in the world’s youngest nation.
Nikki Haley met behind closed doors with President Salva Kiir and his two deputies in a bid to persuade both sides in the conflict to stop fighting and allow humanitarian aid to reach thousands of South Sudanese facing the risk of starvation.
“The United States is at a crossroads and we have to decide how we’re going to look at South Sudan going forward,” Haley told Kiir after two lengthy meetings in the capital Juba.
Haley expressed frustration over the country's civil war, pressing the message that Washington is running out patience as South Sudanese leaders show no evident interest in bringing peace.
Saying she hopes her visit will bring hope to South Sudanese, who are tired of nearly four years of violence, Haley also toured the country’s main referral hospital and UN protection of civilians sites (UN PoCs) in Juba.
Haley's five-day visit to Africa this week is heavily focused on the Horn of Africa Nation as well as the troubled Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nhial Deng Nhial, Kiir’s special envoy, told reporters that the talks revolved around revitalizing peace efforts, a permanent cease-fire and cessation of hostilities, and humanitarian access.
“The president emphasized the commitment and readiness of the government of South Sudan to commit itself fully to a revitalization process through the IGAD high revitalization forum,” Nhial said, referring to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development African trade bloc.
The government assured Haley of its commitment to allow humanitarian access and observe a cease-fire in conjunction with dialogue, he added.
“This is a very productive engagement, and this engagement will continue and open a new page in relations between the U.S. administration and South Sudan,” said Nhial.
Rocky birth
A fragile peace deal in South Sudan broke down last year, and regional and international efforts to bring warring sides to new talks have not succeeded. The U.S. is considering how to pressure Kiir into peace.
The U.S. government last month imposed targeted sanctions on two senior South Sudanese officials and the former army chief for their role in the conflict, atrocities against civilians, and attacks on international missions in South Sudan.
South Sudan was midwifed into existence by U.S. cash and support in 2011 but faltered badly two years after independence. Kiir accused his sacked deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup.
The conflict has left tens of thousands dead and has been marked by widespread atrocities on both sides.
Separately, South Sudan's army on Wednesday dismissed 20 soldiers from service for alleged involvement in crimes including rape, theft, and murder of colleagues, and sentenced another soldier to death for the crime of murder.
Other soldiers got one-year sentences and dismissal from service after being found guilty of random shooting and causing panic to civilians.
International rights groups have accused South Sudan's government forces and allied fighters of raping women, killing civilians as they fled into the bush, burning villages, and looting property during military operations.
Human Rights Watch in 2016 described what it called shocking violence against civilians in the country’s north. It said the alleged attacks on civilians amount to war crimes, and the killings and rapes may also constitute crimes against humanity.
