JUBA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Thursday described as outrageous and regrettable the statement by the U.S. diplomat at the UN that the Juba government is unfit to sail the country out of the four-year conflict.

Presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny said the statement by Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, on Wednesday is demoralizing to South Sudan leaders she met in October last year in Juba.

Talking to Xinhua, Ateny condemned the "outrageous statement" about President Salva Kiir being unfit to govern South Sudan, adding that it shows the international community is taking sides in the conflict.

Haley said the South Sudan government is unfit partner in the pursuit of peace in the wake of the recent violations of the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) agreed upon by the warring parties late last year.

"The government of South Sudan is increasingly proving itself to be unfit partner for this Council and any country seeking peace and security for the people of South Sudan," Haley reportedly said in New York.

The United States is a member of the international group Troika that also includes Britain and Norway, which is supporting the ongoing High-Level Revitalization Forum led by the East African bloc IGAD and has been partners in the inking of the now weakened 2015 peace agreement between warring sides.

"It is unfortunate that she (Haley) was the last senior American leader to visit South Sudan and the president showed flexibility on peace to the Americans," Ateny said.

Haley, who visited South Sudan in October 2017, also renewed calls for imposition of arms embargo and described the promotion of three senior military officers by President Kiir as a slap in the face of the international community.