The Department of State has updated its Travel Advisory for South Sudan, maintaining a Level 4 – Do Not Travel warning due to security threats. Non-emergency U.S. personnel are ordered to depart. The country faces ongoing armed conflict, widespread violent crime, and dangers to journalists.
The Department of State revised its Travel Advisory for South Sudan on March 8, 2025, indicating an Ordered Departure for non-emergency U.S. government personnel from Juba due to persistent security threats. The Travel Advisory Level remains at Level 4, denoting a Do Not Travel status, which supersedes the previous advisory issued on July 31, 2023.
The updated Travel Advisory emphasizes the hazardous conditions in South Sudan. It warns against travel to the country due to high risks of crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict. Armed confrontations among political and ethnic factions persist, with widespread access to weapons. Cattle raids are frequent and typically result in violent encounters.
Crimes including carjackings, shootings, assaults, robberies, and kidnappings are prevalent across South Sudan, affecting foreign nationals significantly, including incidents of rape and armed robbery. Additionally, journalists face extreme dangers as reporting in South Sudan without the necessary authorization from the South Sudanese Media Authority is deemed illegal, and numerous journalists have faced harassment and even death while reporting on the conflict.
In summary, the Department of State’s revised Travel Advisory for South Sudan highlights severe security concerns, maintaining a Level 4 warning against travel. The Ordered Departure of U.S. government personnel indicates escalating risks, including ongoing armed conflict and a high incidence of violent crime. Journalists also experience significant threats, underscoring the perilous environment within the country.
Original Source: www.miragenews.com
