The United States has taken a significant diplomatic step by revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders. This move is a direct consequence of South Sudan’s failure to accept the return of its citizens who have been repatriated from the U.S. The decision, announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscores Washington’s increasingly strict stance on immigration enforcement, particularly when countries refuse to cooperate with the repatriation of their citizens.
This policy aligns with a broader strategy initiated during the Trump administration, which has warned foreign nations that failing to swiftly accept the return of citizens who are deemed to be in the U.S. illegally will lead to punitive measures. In this case, the U.S. has enacted visa sanctions as a form of pressure. Rubio stated that the U.S. would revoke all visas currently held by South Sudanese citizens and halt the issuance of new visas until the country complies with repatriation agreements.
The United States has long maintained that every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when requested by foreign governments, including the U.S. This policy reflects broader diplomatic concerns, with South Sudan’s ongoing instability, particularly its failure to fully cooperate with the international community, contributing to the deterioration of relations.
The revocation comes at a time of escalating political tensions in South Sudan, as the country faces the threat of a new civil war. This week, African Union mediators arrived in the capital, Juba, to help ease tensions after the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar. Machar’s house arrest followed violent clashes in Upper Nile state, where the military and the White Army militia, former allies of Machar’s forces, have engaged in fighting. The 2013-2018 civil war, which was rooted in ethnic divisions, saw widespread devastation, and the current political unrest has raised fears of a return to full-scale conflict.
As diplomatic talks continue, the U.S. has made it clear that it expects South Sudan to cooperate on repatriation matters before any future negotiations can take place.
