US warns citizens against traveling to South Sudan

January 8, 2015 (JUBA) – The United States Department of State warned its citizens against travelling to South Sudan due to the instability that persists across the country.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the US said “citizens traveling to South Sudan despite this warning should develop contingency plans prior to arrival to ensure their safety and security.”

“The South Sudanese government is currently engaged in an armed conflict with opposition forces led by the former vice-president Riek Machar,” partly reads the statement.

“Although the conflict is primarily concentrated in Unity, Jonglei, and Upper Nile states, other areas of the country have experienced periodic fighting. Instability also persists across the country due to retaliatory attacks, inter-communal violence, and cattle raiding,” it add.

The US embassy scaled down staffs in Juba in the aftermath of 2013 outbreak of violence. Visas for US citizens in South Sudan are processed in Kenya or Uganda.

Washington also described South Sudan’s health care as “extremely limited and poor.”

“US citizens with medical conditions should not travel to South Sudan, and all travelers should ensure their travel to the country is covered by overseas medical insurance, including medical evacuation. Medical evacuation from South Sudan is very expensive, often costing tens of thousands of dollars or more,” the statement stressed.

“The government of South Sudan has limited capacity to deter crime or provide security to travelers, particularly outside of Juba,” it added, citing high risk of violent crimes.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Juba has imposed curfew from 10:00PM-6:00AM (local time) and implemented other measures to protect their personnel living and working in South Sudan. These include requiring personnel to travel in armored government vehicles and coordinating with the host government for travels outside Juba.

(ST)