US revokes all South Sudan visas, halts issuance over repatriation dispute

April 6, 2025 (WASHINGTON) – The United States revoked all visas held by South Sudanese nationals and halted further visa issuance effective Saturday, accusing the Juba government of failing to accept its citizens repatriated from the U.S.

In a statement Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the immediate revocation of all existing South Sudanese visas and a halt to new issuances to prevent entry into the United States. He attributed the decision to Juba’s lack of cooperation on accepting returned nationals: “As South Sudan’s transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle [accepting returnees], effective immediately, the United States Department of State is taking actions to revoke all visas…”

Rubio accused Juba of exploiting U.S. systems. “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of immigration enforcement for U.S. national security. “Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” Rubio added.

The Secretary of State indicated that the visa restrictions could be lifted based on Juba’s future actions. His statement concluded, “We will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation. ”

The move comes as the East African nation faces severe challenges, including escalating armed conflict, mass displacement, and acute food insecurity, potentially placing it on the verge of civil war.