South Sudan described the U.S. visa revocation as unfair and politically motivated, claiming the decision stemmed from a diplomatic incident involving a Congolese national, whom it accused of instigating the situation that led to Washington’s punitive response.
Recall the ban was announced by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, citing South Sudan’s refusal to accept the return of its citizens being removed from the US.
In his statement, Rubio said that the US would also block any arriving citizens of South Sudan, the world’s newest country, at US ports of entry, blaming “the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner.”
“We will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation,” Rubio added.
South Sudan counters US accusation
However, South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the U.S. claims, insisting that the individual in question was in fact a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo, not South Sudan.
Speaking to the Associated Press, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth accused Washington of “attempting to create tension” and unfairly targeting South Sudan in a volatile diplomatic climate.
“No sovereign country would accept deportees who are not its citizens,” Makuei said, adding that the individual had been returned to the sending country for further verification and processing.
The incident has heightened diplomatic friction between Juba and Washington at a time when South Sudan is already grappling with political uncertainty and international scrutiny over stalled democratic reforms.
South Sudan’s threatened democracy
South Sudan’s democracy is facing significant challenges, with internal tensions and external pressures threatening the country’s fragile governance.
The transitional government is struggling to implement key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement, particularly regarding elections, constitutional reforms, and security arrangements.
The situation is further complicated by diplomatic tensions with the US, including revoked visas.
President Salva Kiir’s administration has been accused of stalling reforms, limiting political freedoms, and maintaining power through a fragile coalition.
The incident has further escalated with the ongoing violence, including clashes and aerial assaults, which has displaced thousands and raised concerns about the protection of civilians.
The influence of regional actors and non-state forces, such as ethnic militias and political spoilers, continues to weaken the rule of law and undermine efforts to build a unified national identity.
The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has warned that the country’s crisis could escalate into all-out war if the peace agreement is not upheld.
