The Ambassador of the United States of America to South Sudan has warned that if the Governemtnt disregarded democratic principles the country could lose key US foreign assistance and set back all the progress made since 2005.
Suzan Page said in an opinion piece titled “Democracy is a fragile thing” that imperfect democracy would crush the dream of South Sudan.She assured that the USA will continue to stand by South Sudan if it follows the values of tolerance, representative governance, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Ms Page said the US is keen to participative democracy, political plurality, equality and tolerance, accountability and transparency, and free and fair elections.
She explained that her Government plans to assist South Sudan with over 1 billion US dollars between 2011 and 2013 to be used on good governance, agriculture, development and human rights projects.
She said President Salva Kiir’s visit next week to New York to attend the UN General Assembly will carry a strong message to the international community that supported South Sudan’s self-determination.