South Sudan Requests Washington to Lift Sanctions and Offers to Take in More US Deportees

South Sudan has urged the Trump administration to remove sanctions on its top official and offered to take in more US deportees.

Politico said Wednesday, citing diplomatic letters and people involved with the talks, that South Sudan has told US President Donald Trump’s administration that it is willing to take in more migrants deported from the US.

The action is a component of a larger diplomatic endeavor to strengthen relations with Washington, which have been tense recently due to the East African country’s persistent political unrest and human rights issues.

The article claims that South Sudan has also urged the United States to remove sanctions placed on one of its top leaders. Although the official’s identity was not made public, US sanctions against South Sudanese authorities have often targeted those who are thought to be escalating the violence or impeding efforts at peace in the nation.

The initiative shows South Sudan’s desire to reduce tensions with the US, especially as it looks for outside assistance before its upcoming elections and faces domestic humanitarian difficulties.

Whether Washington will accept South Sudan’s overture or change its sanctions stance is still up in the air.