US Shifts Stance on South Sudan

The US last week moved away from its longstanding policy of strong support for South Sudan by denouncing the Southern army’s “offensive incursion” into a town in neighbouring Sudan.
“We condemn South Sudan’s military involvement in the attack on and seizure of Higlig, an act which goes beyond self-defence and has increased tensions between Sudan and South Sudan to dangerous levels,” the State Department said.
At a press briefing in Washington, department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland agreed with a reporter’s suggestion that the US condemnation of South Sudan’s behaviour is “unusual.”
The Bush and Obama administrations both allied the US closely with South Sudan, providing it with millions of dollars in military and development aid.