The United States has ordered the immediate departure of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan due to escalating violence, including crimes like kidnapping and armed conflict. The travel advisory for Americans is at Level 4, advising against travel due to a significant risk to safety. The political strife between President Kiir and Vice President Machar exacerbates the crisis, jeopardizing a tenuous peace deal established in 2018.
In light of a surge in violence, the United States has mandated the immediate withdrawal of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan’s capital, Juba, as announced by the Department of State on Sunday. The situation has deteriorated due to escalating crime, kidnappings, and armed conflict in the African nation.
The U.S. travel advisory for South Sudan is currently set at Level 4, indicating that Americans should refrain from traveling to the country. The advisory highlights the prevalence of violent crimes such as carjackings, shootings, ambushes, and kidnappings, which affect not only locals but also foreign nationals.
The advisory notes that the U.S. government has a limited capacity to provide emergency consular services in South Sudan, further complicating the safety of U.S. citizens. The ongoing violence is jeopardizing a fragile peace deal established between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, which was intended to bring an end to the civil war that claimed over 400,000 lives.
The rivalry between President Kiir and Vice President Machar continues to pose a significant barrier to achieving lasting peace. Suspicion and antagonism characterize their relationship, as Kiir harbors doubts about Machar’s intentions, while Machar labels Kiir as a dictator.
The State Department utilizes a four-level travel advisory system, with Level 4 representing the highest threat to safety. At this level, the government advises individuals to prepare wills, store DNA samples for identification purposes, and exercise extreme caution if they choose to travel to South Sudan, especially in Juba. Other countries like Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Iraq, Venezuela, and Haiti are also categorized under Level 4 due to similar risks.
The United States’ decision to evacuate non-emergency personnel from South Sudan underscores the critical security issues facing the region. With rising incidents of violence and a precarious political situation between the nation’s leaders, safety remains a paramount concern. The ongoing advisory encourages extreme caution for any Americans contemplating travel to South Sudan. Overall, these developments highlight the sustained challenges to peace and safety in the country.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
