U.S. orders non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan amid escalating violence
The U.S. ordered the immediate departure of non-emergency personnel from the South Sudan capital, citing an increase in crime, kidnapping and armed conflict, the U.S. State Department said on Sunday.
Travel consultation level South Sudan Stay in Level 4, This means that Americans should not travel to African countries.
“Violent crimes such as carjacking, gunfire, ambush, attacks, robbery and kidnapping, including throughout South Sudan, including Juba,” the consultation said. “Foreign nationals have been victims of rape, sexual assault, armed robbery and other violent crimes.”
It also said that the U.S. government has “limited capacity to provide emergency consular services to South Sudanese citizens.”
The violence in South Sudan escalates, threatening a fragile peace deal between the country’s top two leaders.
President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar signed a peace agreement in 2018 to end a five-year civil war in which 400,000 people were killed. Machar served as the first vice president of the country’s national solidarity government, even though his political groups opposed Kiir.
The political competition between the two is widely seen as a major obstacle to peace in South Sudan, and Kiel doubts the ambitions of his deputy and Machar calls Kiel the dictator.
The State Council issues travel consultations to all countries. Level 4 is the highest level issued by the State Council and will only be issued when there is a greater risk of life threatening. At this level, the U.S. government advises Americans to write a will and to use DNA samples with medical providers with a purpose determined.
For South Sudan, the ministry urges Americans who decide to “exercise extreme care” in all regions, including the capital Juba.
The State Council has designated more than a dozen countries including Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Iraq, Venezuela and Haiti by the State Council.
