The United States, United Kingdom, and Norway—collectively known as the Troika—have issued a strong condemnation of South Sudan's leadership and called for an immediate end to the nation's conflict. They hold President Salva Kiir and his rival, Riek Machar, along with their supporters, responsible for the crisis, urging them to halt violence and restore trust through concrete actions.

Critique of Governance and Economic Decline

The Troika's statement contrasts South Sudan's economic potential at its 2011 independence with its current state. They note the nation was a middle-income country due to oil revenue but has since become what they describe as the world's poorest and most corrupt. The 2018 peace agreement, intended to bring stability, has failed. The Troika asserts that the transitional government of national unity is not living up to its name, with violated power-sharing principles and no meaningful progress on the agreement's implementation.

Internal Mismanagement and Regional Instability

The statement details severe governance failures. National resources are misused, leaving public servants unpaid and forcing international donors to fund basic services. President Kiir is criticized for destabilizing unilateral political reshuffles instead of governing or preparing for elections, exemplified by the sacking of Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel. Most alarmingly, widespread conflict has returned across the country. The Troika warns that a civil war would devastate South Sudanese citizens and further destabilize neighboring nations already impacted by the war in Sudan.

Impact of the Sudan Conflict on Oil

The internal strife is exacerbated by the civil war in neighboring Sudan. The seizure of Sudan's Heglig oilfield by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in December temporarily halted production. This facility processes 130,000 barrels per day of oil from South Sudan's Unity State, which is piped through Sudan for export. The takeover disrupted South Sudan's production, which was at 150,000 barrels per day and expected to rise to 215,000.

Demands for Action

The Troika urges South Sudan's leaders to reverse course for the people's good and regional stability. They call on all parties, especially Kiir's SPLM-IG and Machar's SPLM-IO, to cease armed attacks, return to a nationwide ceasefire, and engage in sustained leader-level dialogue. Specific demands on the transitional government include ending aerial attacks on citizens, releasing political prisoners, using public revenue to pay employees, and funding essential services like health and education.

Parallel Diplomatic Engagement

These calls coincided with a visit by South Sudanese government officials to SAF-controlled Port Sudan. Talks covered economic cooperation, trade, investment, security, and peace processes. A key discussion involved South Sudan's Petroleum Ministry engaging with Sudan's minister on resuming production from Sudanese oilfields, highlighting ongoing efforts to address the economic fallout from the regional conflict.