US calls back envoy to South Sudan 'for consultations'

ANKARA

The U.S. called back its ambassador to South Sudan on Monday due to the country's failure to establish a transitional government.

Thomas Hushek was recalled "for consultations related to the recent failure of parties to form the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity by the extended deadline of November 12," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

Ortagus said that Hushek will meet with senior government officials in Washington as part of the re-evaluation of the U.S. relationship with the South Sudan government over "the latest developments".

"The United States stands with the people of South Sudan in their pursuit of peace and will work in partnership with the region to support efforts to achieve peace and a successful political transition in South Sudan," she concluded.

South Sudan slid into crisis when President Salva Kiir sacked rebel leader Riek Machar as vice president in December 2013 on suspicion of plotting a coup, followed by a protracted civil war that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and forced 4 million people to flee their homes.

Before a 2018 peace deal, five years of fighting between the two leaders crippled the country, with millions displaced and almost 400,000 people died from violence and disease.

Parties to the agreement failed to constitute a new government -- after a second time that an extension granted -- on Nov. 12, because pre-transitional period tasks were not accomplished.

The main disagreement points were transitional security arrangements, the number of states the country will have and their boundaries.