US President Donald Trump on Wednesday extended the national emergency declared on South Sudan in April 2014, saying the situation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security of the United States.

“The situation in and in relation to South Sudan continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared on April 3, 2014, to deal with that threat must continue in effect beyond April 3, 2020,” a statement issued by the White House said.

The emergency was first declared by former President Barrack Obama in 2014, a few months after civil war erupted in South Sudan in 2013 and extended several times during the civil war.

“Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13664,” the statement added.

The emergency declaration, it noted, follows activities that threat the peace, security, or stability of South Sudan and the surrounding region, including widespread violence and atrocities, human rights abuses, recruitment and use of child soldiers, attacks on peacekeepers, and obstruction of humanitarian works.

South Sudan government is yet to comment on the US statement.