In a controversial move, the United States has revoked visas for all South Sudanese nationals, citing the country’s alleged refusal to accept deported citizens. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sweeping visa ban, marking the first time such a measure has targeted all passport holders from a single nation under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Rubio stated that South Sudan’s transitional government failed to cooperate in accepting repatriated citizens, prompting the US to block entry for South Sudanese nationals at its ports. However, South Sudan’s foreign ministry has strongly contested the decision, claiming the incident involved a Congolese national mistakenly identified as South Sudanese. The ministry expressed regret over the blanket measure, calling it unfair and based on an isolated case of misrepresentation.
Rising Tensions and Civil War Fears
The visa ban comes amid escalating tensions in South Sudan, where fears of renewed civil war are growing. The fragile peace deal signed in 2018, which ended a five-year conflict, is under threat following the house arrest of First Vice-President Riek Machar. President Salva Kiir has accused Machar of inciting rebellion, further destabilizing the world’s youngest nation.
The US has also ordered the evacuation of non-emergency staff from South Sudan, citing increased violence and instability. South Sudanese nationals in the US, previously granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), face uncertainty as the designation is set to expire on May 3.
Diplomatic Fallout and Future Implications
South Sudan’s Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth criticized the US for exploiting the tense situation in the country, asserting that no sovereign nation would accept foreign deportees. The visa ban has sparked debates about its impact on international relations and the broader implications for South Sudan’s political and humanitarian crisis.
As the situation unfolds, the global community watches closely, raising questions about the ethics of such sweeping measures and their potential to exacerbate existing conflicts.
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