U.S. Orders Non-Emergency Personnel to Depart South Sudan Amid Rising Tensions
The U.S. has ordered non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan due to rising crime and conflict. Travel remains at Level 4, advising against visitation. Ongoing violence and recent detentions of political allies threaten a peace agreement established in 2018. Americans are urged to exercise extreme caution.
The United States has directed the immediate departure of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan’s capital due to escalating concerns regarding crime, kidnappings, and armed conflict, as stated by the Department of State. Travel to South Sudan remains highly discouraged, classified at Level 4, indicating that Americans should avoid visiting the country altogether.
The travel advisory emphasizes the prevalence of violent crimes such as carjackings and shootings, with foreign nationals increasingly targeted by sexual assaults and robberies. Additionally, it warns that fighting continues and that weapons are widely accessible among the populace, limiting U.S. government’s capacity to offer emergency consular services effectively.
This advisory comes at a time when tensions threaten the fragile peace arrangement established in 2018 between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. Recent conflicts in Upper Nile State led to the detention of several key supporters of Mr. Machar, raising alarms about the stability of the peace deal that concluded a civil war between their opposing factions.
Incidents such as the recent attack on a United Nations helicopter during an evacuation mission in Nasir further exacerbate the security situation. The State Department has urged any Americans remaining in South Sudan to exercise extreme caution, particularly in Juba. Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth has not provided comments regarding the ongoing situation.
In conclusion, the U.S. government has mandated the exit of non-emergency staff from South Sudan amid increasing risks and violence. The critical travel advisory reflects serious safety concerns, while ongoing tensions jeopardize the fragile peace agreement. American citizens in South Sudan are urged to remain vigilant as hostilities persist and security conditions deteriorate.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
