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FEDERALhearing transcript

High Impact

Senate Hearing: Options for Addressing the Crisis in South Sudan

Original title: SOUTH SUDAN: OPTIONS IN CRISIS

January 1, 2017

South Sudan Foreign Policy Humanitarian Crisis United Nations International Relations

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing examines the effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy and international peacekeeping efforts in South Sudan, where ongoing conflict and government corruption have led to widespread displacement and famine.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

South Sudanese civilians

They are experiencing displacement, famine, and violence as a result of the ongoing conflict.

United Nations

The organization is responsible for the peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) currently operating in South Sudan.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing on September 20, 2016, to evaluate the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. Senators and expert witnesses discussed the failure of the 2015 peace agreement, allegations of government corruption, and the effectiveness of the United Nations peacekeeping mission.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on September 20, 2016, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Chairman Bob Corker stated that President Salva Kiir replaced Riek Machar with an opposition alternative, potentially invalidating the August 2015 peace agreement.
The committee discussed reports of South Sudanese government forces firing on U.S. diplomatic vehicles and injuring a U.N. official in July 2016.
Over 1 million South Sudanese refugees have fled the country.
One in five South Sudanese citizens have been displaced from their homes.
The committee reviewed allegations that South Sudanese leadership is diverting national resources for personal enrichment.
Chairman Corker criticized the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) for failing to protect civilians at designated protection sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current status of the 2015 South Sudan peace agreement?

According to Chairman Bob Corker, the agreement is likely invalidated due to President Kiir's replacement of Riek Machar with a different opposition figure.

What concerns were raised about the United Nations in South Sudan?

The committee expressed concern that the U.N. peacekeeping mission () is unable to fulfill its mandate to protect civilians, citing instances where violence occurred near U.N. protection sites.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Questioning U.S. Commitment

The hearing marks a shift toward questioning the viability of the U.S. commitment to the South Sudanese government following the collapse of the 2015 peace agreement.

Bob Corker Salva Kiir

Connected Entities

personSalva Kiir“President of South Sudan”Map →

personBob Corker“Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations”Map →

organizationSenate Committee on Foreign Relations“Congressional committee conducting the hearing”Map →

organizationUNMISS“United Nations Mission in South Sudan”Map →

personRiek Machar“Former Deputy President of South Sudan”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance80
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy65
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment20
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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