[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S78-S80]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              SOUTH SUDAN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, several months ago, I spoke of the hope we 
all felt that after decades of civil war, famine, and political 
turmoil, after millions were killed and millions more became refugees 
including thousands of ``lost boys'' and ``lost girls,'' South Sudan's 
independence and a peace agreement would be the beginning of a period 
of lasting stability and progress.
  Regrettably, what has unfolded since then is the antithesis of 
stability or

[[Page S79]]

progress. The past decade has been plagued by continued ethnic 
violence, widespread hunger, and ongoing disputes between rival 
politicians who have been motivated by their own personal ambitions 
rather than building a democratic country or improving the lives of the 
South Sudanese people. Two individuals, President Salva Kiir and First 
Vice President Riek Machar, are primarily to blame for fueling tensions 
and mobilizing support along ethnic lines and for failing in their 
responsibility to invest in public infrastructure, basic services, and 
the institutions of a multi-party democracy. The country remains 
divided, violent, and impoverished. The Parliament is nothing more than 
a hand-picked rubberstamp.
  In S. Res. 380, which passed unanimously on December 9, 2021, we 
recounted the failure of leadership that continues to plague South 
Sudan. We said:

       Whereas despite years of fighting, widespread suffering of 
     South Sudanese civilians, punitive actions by the 
     international community, and 2 peace agreements, the leaders 
     of South Sudan have failed to build sustainable peace, and 
     critical provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on the 
     Resolution of the Conflict [R-ARCSS] . . . remain 
     unimplemented;
       Whereas the leaders of South Sudan have consistently failed 
     to uphold their responsibilities to create the conditions for 
     peace and prosperity, have prioritized self-preservation and 
     corruption over the needs of the people they represent, have 
     acted in bad faith in the implementation of cease fire and 
     peace agreements, and have betrayed the cause of freedom, 
     resulting in the loss of millions of lives; and
       Whereas South Sudan has not held an election since its 
     independence and the current leaders of South Sudan were 
     appointed or installed through transitional arrangements 
     based on peace agreements.

  The people of South Sudan deserve better. Their children are hungry. 
They live in constant fear that the country will again erupt into civil 
war, and they will be forced to flee their homes yet again. It is a 
travesty that, despite billions of dollars in international aid, oil 
revenues, and black market loans, so little has been accomplished due 
to the whims and greed of two politicians. Where did all that money go, 
when the government does not pay teachers, or health workers, 
diplomats, or war veterans, or build schools, health clinics, housing, 
or roads, or otherwise address the basic needs of the people of South 
Sudan? Where did the money go when the government does nothing to 
protect its citizens and their livestock from drowning from the yearly 
flooding of the Nile River? Does anyone doubt that it ended up in 
secret bank accounts or to purchase properties far away from South 
Sudan?
  I have spoken before of the People's Coalition for Civil Action--
PCCA--a pro-democracy civil rights movement that seeks to mobilize the 
people of South Sudan in their pursuit of peaceful political change, 
which is their right. The PCCA and similar peaceful organizations 
represent a rejection of war, corruption, insecurity, and poverty. They 
are calling for new, honest, and capable leadership that is committed 
to improving the lives of their people, to providing stability and 
security, rather than self-enrichment.
  I note that S. Res. 380 calls on the Secretary of State to ``lead a 
comprehensive interagency process to develop a revitalized United 
States policy toward South Sudan that . . . identifies South Sudanese 
political and civilian stakeholders, beyond President Kiir and First 
Vice President Machar, with whom the United States may work for the 
promotion of peace, democracy, development, accountability, 
transparency, and anti-corruption efforts.'' Supporting the PCCA would 
be a good place to start.
  How has President Kiir responded to this praiseworthy demand for 
nothing more than that he and Vice President Machar keep their promise 
to lead the country out of poverty? Several of the PCCA's leaders have 
been arrested. Others live in exile, fearing that they too would be 
jailed if they return home.
  I think of Abraham Awolich, one of the lost boys. One of his brothers 
was killed fighting for the liberation of South Sudan, and Abraham 
nearly died himself for the same cause, but he was fortunate to be 
educated in a refugee camp in Kenya and resettled in my State of 
Vermont, where he graduated from the university. He is one of the 
dedicated leaders of the PCCA who have called for free and fair 
elections so the country can finally have new leadership and leave 
behind a generation of corruption, violence, and misery. Abraham left 
the comfort of living in America and chose to go back to South Sudan to 
help build a new democratic society, but he has had to flee his 
country, and his assets have been frozen for speaking out and standing 
up for democracy and civil rights. This is wrong.
  Others who are in jail for their peaceful advocacy are Kuel Aguer 
Kuel, Pastor Abraham Chol Maketh, Malik Angok, and Fadhia Ngor. Rajab 
Mohandis, Wani Michael, Joseph Akol Makeer, and Jame David Kolok are on 
the run for the same reason, their assets also frozen. Other advocacy 
organizations the government has targeted besides the PCCA include the 
Organization for Responsive Governance, the Okay Africa Foundation, and 
the Foundation for Democracy and Accountable Governance.
  These individuals and organizations deserve and need our support.
  I urge the South Sudanese authorities to release Kuel Aguer Kuel and 
all the political prisoners mentioned so they can begin this new year 
with their families. The government should also unfreeze the assets of 
the individuals and organizations affected and issue a public statement 
revoking any further threats against them and their organizations.
  The repressive actions of the South Sudanese Government should 
outrage each of us, especially considering the billions of dollars 
American taxpayers contributed to secure South Sudan's independence and 
put the country on a path to a prosperous future. President Kiir and 
Vice President Machar have a duty to provide the political and civic 
space for their people to exercise their rights of free expression, 
association, and assembly and to petition for free and fair elections 
and for honest and competent governance.
  Ever since independence 10 years ago, the people of South Sudan have 
struggled to survive under the suffocating oppression of the same two 
disgraced leaders. President Kiir and Vice President Machar have an 
opportunity to show real statesmanship, but time is running out. They 
should listen to the voices of their people expressed through the 
National Dialogue and step aside and give South Sudan a new beginning. 
The two could end the unrest in South Sudan with a public declaration 
of their intention not to contest the next election. Rather than delay 
elections as they have done repeatedly before, President Kiir and Vice 
President Machar should set a date for national and Parliamentary 
elections, in accordance with the R-ARCSS, and declare their 
unconditional commitment to relinquish power as soon as South Sudan's 
new leaders are sworn in.
  In acting on this advice, President Kiir and Vice President Machar 
would receive international support for an honorable exit from power. 
Ignoring this advice, however, would result in further condemnation and 
consequences from the United States and the rest of the international 
community.
  The text of S. Res. 380 bears repeating, because it identifies some, 
but by no means all, of the consequences that could result. It ``urges 
the Secretary of the Treasury--

       (A) to prioritize investigations into illicit financial 
     flows fueling violence in South Sudan;
       (B) to work with the Secretary of State to update, on a 
     regular basis, the list of individuals and entities 
     designated under the South Sudan sanctions program, including 
     individuals at the highest levels of leadership in South 
     Sudan and from within the National Security Service; and
       (C) to coordinate, in cooperation with the Secretary of 
     State, with the United Kingdom and the European Union on 
     South Sudan-related sanctions designations and enforcement.''

  What has befallen the people of South Sudan in the 10 years since 
independence is a travesty. Their dreams of a better future have been 
crushed. Their rights have been trampled. Many have paid with their 
lives or their freedom. Their government has become a subject of 
ridicule by the same international donors that staked so much on the 
good faith of leaders who have failed them.
  Time has run out for President Kiir and Vice President Machar. The 
patience of the South Sudanese people

[[Page S80]]

has run out. The tolerance of the international community has run out. 
They have squandered and abused their authority for far too long. They 
would be well-advised to stand aside so that others, chosen in a free 
and fair election, can begin the process of uniting and rebuilding the 
country. To that end, the United States can work with regional allies, 
Canada, Norway, the UK, other European nations, and church leaders to 
achieve a democratic and peaceful solution in South Sudan.

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