U.S. Revokes Visas for South Sudanese Amid Country’s Ongoing Crisis
The U.S. has suddenly revoked the visas for all South Sudanese nationals, just as the country faces a possible return to civil war. The Trump administration says it’s due to South Sudan’s government failing to accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner.
This decision means many South Sudanese people might be forced back into a country struggling with violence, economic instability, and ongoing conflict. South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has been struggling with civil war since 2013, after President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar’s factions started fighting.
A peace deal was made in 2018, but things have remained fragile, and the country still hasn’t held elections. Now, with fighting heating up again, South Sudan’s peace deal seems to be on the verge of collapse. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that things are looking eerily similar to the deadly civil wars of the past.
South Sudan’s government has faced ongoing challenges, including corruption and economic issues, as well as instability caused by the war in neighboring Sudan and climate-related disasters. The country is heavily reliant on foreign aid, but much of that has been cut, including U.S. support.
The U.S. government’s decision to revoke visas is a stark contrast to the earlier days when the U.S. supported South Sudan’s push for independence. South Sudanese students, like a freshman from South Sudan who played in the NCAA basketball tournament, may now face uncertain futures.
It’s unclear how many South Sudanese nationals hold U.S. visas, but the government has made it clear that no new visas will be issued until South Sudan cooperates fully.
Trump Administration Cuts Visas for South Sudanese as Civil War Escalates”
