U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (2nd-L) poses with his fellow Foreign Ministers L-R: Kenyan Foreign Secretary Amina Mohamed, Somalia Foreign Minister Abdisalam Omer, South Sudan Foreign Minister Deng Alor Kuol, Sudan Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, and Uganda Foreign Minister Sam Kahamba Kutesa after a meeting and working lunch that focused on Somalia and South Sudan on Aug.22 at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. AFP photo
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (2nd-L) poses with his fellow Foreign Ministers L-R: Kenyan Foreign Secretary Amina Mohamed, Somalia Foreign Minister Abdisalam Omer, South Sudan Foreign Minister Deng Alor Kuol, Sudan Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, and Uganda Foreign Minister Sam Kahamba Kutesa after a meeting and working lunch that focused on Somalia and South Sudan on Aug.22 at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. AFP photo
America’s insists on ‘Protection Force’ for South Sudan
South Sudan was at the top of the agenda as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met on Aug. 21 with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and foreign ministers from Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, and South Sudan in Nairobi, at the start of a three-country tour, writes Independent Team and Agencies.
Kerry arrived in the Kenyan capital late on Aug.20 for his second trip as secretary of state to Nairobi since May 2015.
During his meeting with his counterparts from eight African nations on Aug. 22, Kerry focused on ways to prevent South Sudan from sliding back into civil war and advance a political transition in Somalia.
The U.S. led the international community into pouring billions of aid into supporting South Sudan when it gained independence in 2011. But the young nation floundered after oil production, which was billed as the major source of revenue to prop it up the young nation, was hit by low global prices for crude.
Soon the specter of ethnic tinged violence returned as President Kiir’s Dinka’s battled Machar’s Nuer in July. Machar suffered defeat, fled into the DR Congo jungles, and was evacuated by the UN.
The secretary of state announced the United States would be giving US$138 million in new aid to South Sudan, which he said would be used for food, water, and medicine for those in need.
He also issued a warning to that country’s leadership.
“But I want to make this clear,” said Kerry. “And I particularly think it is important for the people back home who are engaged in trying to help, I am talking about our taxpayers in the United States. We made it crystal clear, that this is not forever; we are not just going to fill in a void. We are not just going to provide help incessantly if they are not willing to accept responsibility and do the things necessary to deliver to their people. That message was delivered loud and clear today.”