US renews national emergency on South Sudan

The United States of America has announced the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to South Sudan for one year.

US President Joe Biden in a statement said the national emergency declared on April 3, 2014, must continue in effect beyond April 3, 2022.

He said the situation in relation to South Sudan continuous to pose unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.

‘’For this reason, the national emergency declared on April 3, 2014, must continue in effect beyond April 3, 2022,” the statement read. “Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13664.”

It says the current situation in the country is a threat to peace, security and stability of South Sudan and the region.

The US president statement added that this situation includes violence and atrocities, human rights abuses, recruitment of child soldiers, attacks of peacekeepers and humanitarian operations.

The national emergency on South Sudan was first declared by former US president Barak Obama in 2014, a few months after war erupted in the country in December 2013

The order directed transfer of assets in form of property would be blocked for some individuals whose actions are considered threats to peace in South Sudan.