South Sudan in diplomatic spat with U.S over visa delay

Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-28 01:00:16|Editor: yan
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JUBA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan said Thursday it was dismayed by the United States for not respecting its senior government officials planning to visit America by deliberately delaying issuance of visa.

Baak Valentio Akol, undersecretary in the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, said it was upset Washington does not fast-track the issuance of visas for its top officials including army commanders planning to visit America.

Akol, who handed over a protest note to the U.S Ambassador to South Sudan, Thomas Hushek, criticized America for subjecting South Sudanese government officials to tedious bureaucratic process.

"We are informed that senior South Sudanese government officials wishing to travel to United States of America don't get their visas on time, sometime they have to wait for up to one month or even over a month before they get the visa," Baak told journalists in Juba.

Baak said in 2003 the United State Congress had enacted unjust law that classified Sudan People's Liberation Movement and Army (SPLM/A) as terrorist or unwelcome organizations by the then U.S. administration.

"For our ruling party the Sudan People's Liberation Movement to be described as a terrorist organization is unacceptable," Baak said.

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