US revokes all South Sudanese visas

The US has announced that it will revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, due to South Sudan’s refusal to accept the return of its repatriated citizens.

According to France 24 on April 6th, the move comes amid growing fears across Africa that South Sudan could descend into civil war once again.

The former US president Joe Biden had previously granted South Sudanese nationals Temporary Protected Status (TPS), shielding them from deportation due to ongoing instability, that designation is set to expire on May 3, 2025.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that South Sudan had violated the principle that countries must accept the return of their own citizens when another country seeks to deport them.

Rubio said that the ban would be “effective immediately, the Department of State is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and suspending further issuance,” and that “we will be prepared to review these actions once South Sudan fully cooperates.”

Rubio also criticised South Sudan’s transitional government, saying it was time they “stop taking advantage of the United States.”

The visa revocation comes as tensions mount in South Sudan.

This week, African Union mediators arrived in the capital, Juba, for talks aimed at preventing a return to civil war.

The visit follows the recent house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, a former rebel leader and rival to President Salva Kiir.

Kiir’s government accused Machar of inciting rebellion after renewed clashes in Upper Nile state between the military and the White Army militia.

While Machar’s forces were allied with the militia during the 2013–2018 civil war, they deny any current involvement.

That conflict, which killed hundreds of thousands, was largely driven by ethnic divisions with Kiir’s Dinka supporters facing off against Machar’s Nuer allies.

Fears are growing that the same lines could be drawn again.

France 24, Maghrebi