Molly Phee, the US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs - Courtesy

The U.S. Department of State has notified South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Minister that President Joe Biden will not be available to meet President Salva Kiir in Washington DC.

In a letter dated September 14 addressed to South Sudan Foreign Affairs Minister, US official Jonathan Pratt, Acting, said he was honored to receive the April 24 and July 25 letters of former Acting Foreign Minister Deng Dau Deng.

Pratt commended former Acting Foreign Minister Dau for correctly describing the staunch support that the United States renders to South Sudan including the nation’s quest for independence.

Regarding former Foreign Minister Deng’s request for a high-level meeting during President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s visit to Washington, he regretted informing Ambassador Morgan Pitia that President Biden would be unavailable.

However, he said Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee would be available to receive President Kiir and engage in the frank, candid discussion of all issues of mutual interest and concern that you describe.

Lastly, he said; “U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael Adler remains available to speak with President Kiir, him the Ambassador, and other senior officials further on the issues I have raised in the letter.”

However, he said his government and the citizens echo the people of South Sudan’s desire for peace, free and fair elections, appropriate use of the nation’s resources, and prosperity.

Pratt added that Washington DC has never retreated from the people of South Sudan and continue to support their achieving these goals.

Moreover, he stated, that “while the transitional government has failed to address the most basic needs of its citizens, the international community, with the United States in the lead, has provided humanitarian and lifesaving assistance.”

Pratt said the U.S. support for South Sudan “predates the country’s independence by decades and is based on foundational values, including human rights, the accountability of a government to its people, and the obligation of a nation’s leaders to use public revenue transparently to meet the public’s needs.”

But he said they have waited more than 12 years to see South Sudan’s transitional leaders demonstrate a genuine commitment to these values by making substantive progress in fighting corruption, ending armed conflict, implementing reforms, and improving transparency and public financial management.

The U.S. officials added that his country also looks to see the transitional government hold those responsible for sexual and gender-based violence as well as other gross violations of human rights.

Also, that, the transitional government must also act with urgency to take steps necessary to hold free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections – he said are now years overdue.

These include establishing political and civic space for the free expression of views before, during, and after the election period.

“We continue to have several restrictions on assistance due to our continued concerns over human rights, corruption, misuse of public revenue, and failure of the transitional government to demonstrate the political will to achieve peace commitments.; we remain eager to engage on steps your government could take to improve the situation as needed to address these restrictions,” Pratt further said in a statement.

According to Pratt, the sanctions, restrictions on foreign assistance, and the arms embargo are responses to longstanding challenges facing the South Sudanese people.

However, he emphasized that “progress toward addressing these challenges and establishing good governance will enhance South Sudan’s international reputation, alleviate the need and misery of many people struggling in the country, help cultivate peace, and create an environment conducive to safe investment in business and development – in South Sudan’s future.

Eye Radio could not independently verify the U.S. department statement.

When contacted for comment, the US Embassy in Juba responded to an Eye Radio email, that it can’t confirm or comment on the document.

“We are aware of reports that an alleged letter between the State Department and the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity was provided to the press by an unknown party. As a matter of policy, we will not confirm the authenticity of this document nor comment on private diplomatic correspondence.”