Biden will not meet Kiir in New York, says State Department
September 19, 2023 (JUBA) – The United States President will not meet his South Sudan counterpart, Salva Kiir in New York, the State Department said.
The 14 September 2023 letter from the U.S State Department came in response to a request South Sudan made through former its Foreign Affairs minister, Deng Dau.
Kiir had requested for a meeting with Biden at the UN General Assembly session.
But Washington, in its response, said Biden would not be available for the meeting.
The letter by the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jonathan Pratt was addressed to the new South Sudanese Foreign Affairs minister, Morgan Pitia.
“Regarding the former foreign minister’s request for a high-level meeting during President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s visit to Washington, I regret to inform you that President Biden will be unavailable,” partly reads the letter.
The State Department, however, said its Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee will instead be available to meet the South Sudanese leader.
“Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee will be available to receive President Kiir and engage in the frank, candid discussion of all issues of mutual interest and concern that you describe,” it further stated.
Also available to meet Kiir would be the US ambassador to Juba, Michael Adler.
Washington also reiterated its support for the people of South Sudan and reaffirmed its stand on the human rights record of the world’s youngest country.
“U.S. support for South Sudan predates your 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,” stressed the letter.
The Biden administration called on South Sudan’s Transitional Government of National Unity to bring human rights violators to justice and carry on activities leading to free and fair elections at the end of the current transitional period.
“We also look to see the transitional government hold those responsible for sexual and gender-based violence as well as other gross violations of human rights. The transitional government must also act with urgency to take steps necessary to hold free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections – now years overdue,” it noted.
South Sudan gained independence from neighbouring Sudan in 2011, but has since suffered from international sanctions largely imposed by the US and the UN.
(ST)