US Revokes Visas for All South Sudanese Nationals Amid Ongoing Diplomatic Dispute

The United States has revoked the visas of all South Sudanese passport holders and will block any further entry of South Sudanese citizens into the country. The State Department explained that South Sudan had “taken advantage” of the US by failing to cooperate in efforts to repatriate individuals to the East African country, a situation that had escalated to the point of imposing immediate travel restrictions.

The US Department of State emphasized that every nation must accept the return of its citizens when requested by another country, such as the United States. This move follows a dispute with the South Sudanese government over one individual in particular, with diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue being rebuffed.

Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State, announced that all visa appointments for South Sudanese nationals were canceled, with no new visas being issued and existing ones invalidated. As a result, no South Sudanese citizens will be allowed entry to the United States until this matter is resolved.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US would be prepared to reconsider these actions once South Sudan fully cooperates. The new policy represents a notable escalation under the Trump administration’s continued push to curtail immigration, specifically targeting nationals by citizenship in a way not previously seen in this form.

South Sudanese nationals in the US had been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 2011 under the Obama administration due to the safety concerns arising from the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. This designation, which allows individuals to stay in the country and work, was extended by the Biden administration last September but is set to expire next month. Last year, 133 South Sudanese individuals were part of the TPS program. Trump has previously advocated for the termination of TPS designations for several countries, such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Meanwhile, violence in South Sudan has flared up recently, with ongoing clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice President Riek Machar, particularly in the eastern city of Nasir. The conflict between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups, represented by Kiir and Machar, respectively, led to 400,000 deaths during the civil war. Although a ceasefire was brokered in 2018, tensions continue to simmer.

The economic situation in South Sudan has worsened, especially after the civil war in Sudan disrupted the country’s oil exports, which account for 70% of its budget. The conflict also led to a large influx of refugees from Sudan, further straining South Sudan’s resources. This financial crisis has resulted in public sector workers going unpaid for extended periods. Furthermore, renewed violence between Kiir and Machar’s supporters has intensified political instability, and Machar’s recent house arrest has raised concerns about the collapse of the 2018 peace agreement.

The African Union has sent mediators, including former leaders from Burundi and Kenya, to South Sudan to try to broker peace between the warring factions. Despite these efforts, experts like Mukesh Kapila, former UN head in Sudan, warn that the situation remains perilous, and there’s little international intervention to prevent the potential escalation of conflict.