US Imposes Visa Restrictions on South Sudan Officials

The United States has announced visa restrictions on South Sudanese government members who obstruct humanitarian aid delivery through taxation, amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by conflict and natural disasters. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized that the South Sudanese government has failed to lower the high costs and bureaucratic hurdles that hinder aid provision, raising concerns over its commitment to a 2018 peace agreement. Concurrently, the U.S. is imposing similar visa restrictions on 14 Syrian regime officials linked to enforced disappearances, adding to previous restrictions on 21 officials. The State Department noted that over 96,000 individuals remain forcibly disappeared in Syria, highlighting a systemic pattern of human rights abuses. Both actions reflect the U.S. commitment to promoting accountability for human rights violations in these countries. Additionally, a salvage operation for a Greek oil tanker attacked by Houthi militants in the Red Sea is set to begin soon, amid concerns over potential environmental damage.