U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Saturday that the United States has officially revoked all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders. The move, he said, was in response to ongoing non-cooperation by South Sudan’s transitional government.
In a statement, Rubio accused the East African nation of “taking advantage of the United States,” emphasizing that countries must accept the timely return of their nationals who face removal proceedings abroad.
“Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” Rubio stated. “South Sudan’s transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle.”
The U.S. will also halt future visa issuance to individuals holding South Sudanese passports, effectively restricting their entry into the country.
This decision comes amid escalating tensions and political instability in South Sudan. Recent clashes between government forces and armed opposition groups have reignited fears of renewed civil conflict.
Just last week, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning, urging both regional and international stakeholders to prevent the world’s newest nation from plunging “over the abyss” into **another civil war**.
Guterres described the situation as a growing **security emergency**, marked by violent unrest and deepening political turmoil. His comments followed the controversial arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar by government authorities—an event that has intensified instability in the capital, Juba.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, remains one of the poorest and most volatile nations in the world. Despite various peace agreements, political rivalries and armed resistance have continued to undermine its path toward long-term stability.
As of now, South Sudanese officials have not issued a formal response to the U.S. visa revocation.
