The political violence by police and pro-government thugs against the people of Nicaragua, particularly university students, shows a blatant disregard for human rights and is unacceptable. Secretary Mike Pompeo today decided to impose U.S. visa restrictions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses or undermining democracy in Nicaragua.

Affected individuals include National Police officials, municipal government officials, and a Ministry of Health official – specifically those directing or overseeing violence against others exercising their rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, thereby undermining Nicaragua’s democracy. These officials have operated with impunity across the country, including in Managua, León, Estelí, and Matagalpa. In certain circumstances, family members of those individuals will also be subject to visa restrictions.

We will not publicly identify these individuals due to U.S. visa confidentiality laws, but we are sending a clear message that human rights abusers and those who undermine democracy are not welcome in the United States.

We emphasize the action we are announcing today is specific to certain officials and not directed at the Nicaraguan people. We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps as necessary. The United States continues to call for an end to violence and supports peaceful negotiations to end this crisis.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The United States welcomes President Ghani’s offer of a temporary ceasefire between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban to allow the Afghan people to celebrate Eid al-Fitr without fear of violence. This ceasefire further demonstrates the Afghan government’s commitment to explore ways to end the conflict. This ceasefire follows the Afghan Ulema Council’s call for the Taliban to end their campaign of violence against the Afghan people and government. The Afghan government’s offer of a temporary ceasefire underscores its commitment to peace as both a national and religious responsibility. We stand with the Afghan people as they lay the foundation for an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process.

In support of the Afghan government’s initiative, NATO’s Resolute Support Mission and U.S. forces in Afghanistan will respect the ceasefire, as it applies to the Taliban. It does not apply to ISIS and al-Qa’ida, nor does it prohibit operations to defend Afghan and Coalition forces from attack.

The United States and our international partners look to the Taliban to honor the ceasefire and demonstrate their respect for the people of Afghanistan who have long called for a reprieve to the Taliban’s campaign of violence.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The United States announces more than $112 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help people in Nigeria and surrounding countries in the Lake Chad region affected by the ongoing crisis.

Nearly a decade of conflict perpetuated by Boko Haram and its offshoot ISIS-West Africa has triggered a humanitarian crisis in the region. More than two million people remain uprooted by the violence, and nearly 11 million people need assistance to survive. The funding in today’s announcement will provide life-saving aid to hundreds of thousands of people, including emergency food, nutrition treatment, shelter, health care, safe drinking water, services for survivors of sexual violence, and support to children separated from their families.

The United States is the largest donor for the humanitarian response in the Lake Chad region, having provided nearly $761 million since Fiscal Year 2017. While the United States remains committed to helping the people affected by this conflict, a comprehensive political and security solution is ultimately the only way to end their suffering and bring peace to the region. The United States calls on other donors to step up to address the basic life-saving needs of those displaced and the communities that host them.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

On June 7, senior officials from the United States, Australia, India, and Japan met in Singapore on the sidelines of the ASEAN-centered Senior Officials Meetings and reaffirmed shared support for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region where all countries respect sovereignty, international law, including with respect to freedom of navigation and overflight, and sustainable development. The officials confirmed that the four countries had a common commitment, founded on shared democratic values and principles, to uphold and strengthen the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. Meeting participants examined ways to achieve shared goals, including in development and connectivity; good governance; regional security, including counterterrorism and nonproliferation; and maritime cooperation.

The four countries reiterated strong support for ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms in the evolving regional architecture, and affirmed the indispensable role of regional institutions in the Indo-Pacific. Participants noted that they each have an important role to play in safeguarding and strengthening open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional order. All sides committed to partner with countries and institutions in the region to promote the shared vision of a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The four countries also committed to continuing discussions on a regular basis.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

Secretary Pompeo spoke today with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Qamar Bajwa. They discussed ways to advance U.S.-Pakistani bilateral relations, the need for political reconciliation in Afghanistan, and the importance of targeting all militant and terrorist groups in South Asia without distinction.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.