United States: The United States has announced an immediate cancellation of visas for South Sudanese passport holders, citing the African nation’s refusal to accept its deported nationals.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington will also block any South Sudanese citizens from entering the country at US ports of entry. Rubio criticized South Sudan’s transitional government for its failure to repatriate its citizens, calling the move a breach of international responsibilities.
Rubio stated that, “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States. Every country must accept the return of its citizens promptly when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them.”
The decision is aligned with President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration stance, which includes sweeping deportation policies and penalties for countries that restrict cooperation. The visa ban comes with rising concerns over renewed conflict in South Sudan. On March 8, the US ordered the evacuation of all non-emergency personnel from the country due to escalating regional fighting, which threatens to unravel the fragile 2018 peace agreement.
I am taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and to restrict any further issuance to prevent entry into the United States, effective immediately, due to the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 5, 2025
South Sudanese nationals in the US had previously been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was set to expire on May 3.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but descended into a brutal civil war just two years later, leaving more than 400,000 dead. Although a peace agreement was signed in 2018, progress on implementing key reforms—including elections, a new constitution, and military unification—has stalled.
The US decision follows similar tensions with other countries. In January, Colombia initially blocked the arrival of deportation flights from the US. The issue was only resolved after President Trump threatened economic sanctions and tariffs against the South American nation.
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