The U.S. government has revoked all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, citing the country’s refusal to accept the return of its deported citizens.
In a statement on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move takes effect immediately and includes a halt to issuing new visas to South Sudanese nationals. “South Sudan must stop taking advantage of the United States,” Rubio said. “We are prepared to review these actions once South Sudan fully cooperates.”
The decision is part of the U.S. administration’s broader push to enforce immigration laws more aggressively, with warnings that non-compliant countries face visa sanctions or even trade penalties.
South Sudan’s embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
The move comes amid renewed fears of conflict in South Sudan. African Union mediators are currently in Juba to prevent a return to civil war after First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest last week.
Machar, who led rebel forces in the devastating 2013–2018 civil war, is accused by President Salva Kiir’s government of attempting to incite another rebellion. His detention follows recent fighting in the Upper Nile state between the army and the White Army militia, previously allied with Machar’s forces.
The previous civil war left hundreds of thousands dead and was largely fought along ethnic lines between Kiir’s Dinka community and Machar’s Nuer group.
