In response to mounting political tensions in South Sudan, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders. This decision comes as the South Sudanese government has been accused of not accepting the repatriation of its nationals and “taking advantage of the United States.” Rubio stated that every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner, emphasizing that South Sudan has failed to fully respect this principle.
This move marks the first time since President Donald Trump returned to the White House that all passport holders from a specific country have been targeted, following his anti-immigration platform. South Sudanese nationals had previously been granted temporary protected status (TPS) by the Biden administration, set to expire on May 3.
Recent violence between government troops and armed opposition groups in South Sudan has raised fears of a renewed civil war, with the United Nations warning of a security emergency and political upheaval in the country. Tensions between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar have escalated, leading to Machar’s arrest and the collapse of a 2018 peace deal.
As the situation in South Sudan continues to deteriorate, the US has made it clear that it will review its actions and consider lifting the visa restrictions once the country is in full cooperation. Meanwhile, international leaders have been urged to prevent South Sudan from descending into another devastating conflict that could further destabilize the region.
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