United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that the US is immediately revoking visas issued to all passport holders of South Sudan.
He blamed “the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner”.
“It is time for the Transitional Government of Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States,” said Rubio.
“Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” he added.
Condition of South Sudan
Fears are rising that South Sudan may once again plunge into civil war.
On March 8, the US instructed all non-emergency personnel to leave the country as regional fighting erupted, endangering a delicate peace agreement signed in 2018.
South Sudanese people in the US had been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), allowing them to stay in the country for a specified time.
TPS for South Sudanese in the US was set to expire by May 3.
It is the world’s newest nation, gained independence in 2011 after breaking away from Sudan.
However, just two years later, tensions between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar sparked a civil war, resulting in the deaths of over 400,000 people.
