[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
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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
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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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