- U.S. cancels all visas for South Sudanese nationals.
- South Sudan accused of refusing to take back deported citizens.
- TPS protection for 133 people to end in May 2025.
- South Sudan’s First VP Riek Machar put under house arrest.
- AU mediators rush to Juba to stop rising tensions.
The United States has taken a hard stance against South Sudan by cancelling all visas held by its citizens and stopping any new visa approvals. The move, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday, comes after Juba declined to receive deported South Sudanese nationals.
“It is time for South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States,” said Rubio.
“All visas are now revoked, and new entries are blocked—effective immediately.
The U.S. says it will only reverse the decision once South Sudan shows full cooperation.
Hundreds Now Affected as TPS Nears Expiry
The visa ban hits hundreds of South Sudanese living in the U.S., including 133 protected under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. Another 140 were eligible to apply for protection, which was granted during Biden’s term due to ongoing violence back home.
That protection now expires on May 3, 2025, placing many at risk of removal.
Unrest Deepens in South Sudan
Meanwhile, the situation in South Sudan is heating up. First Vice President Riek Machar has been placed under house arrest, accused of trying to ignite a rebellion.
Violence has broken out in Upper Nile State, where government forces are clashing with the White Army militia—a group that once fought alongside Machar in the bloody 2013–2018 conflict that killed over 400,000 people.
AU Rushes to Prevent Another War
With tensions rising, African Union mediators have arrived in Juba in a bid to calm the political storm. Their goal is to avoid a return to full-scale war and salvage the fragile peace deal.
Sources say high-level talks are ongoing, though no official AU statement has been issued yet.
Diplomatic Rift Widens
The visa move by Washington signals deeper frustration with South Sudan’s transitional government. As pressure mounts both at home and abroad, the country’s leadership now faces tough decisions.
The world is watching closely to see whether South Sudan will steer towards peace—or collapse back into chaos.
