The U.S. has ordered non-emergency staff to leave South Sudan due to rising crime and conflict. The travel advisory is at Level 4, advising against travel. The alert indicates persistent violent crime, clashes impacting political stability, and a deteriorating security situation, including an attack on a UN helicopter.
The United States has mandated the immediate departure of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan due to rising incidences of crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict, as announced by the Department of State on Sunday. The travel advisory categorizes South Sudan at Level 4, strongly advising Americans against entering the country. This alert underscores the prevalent violent crime, including carjackings and shootings, with foreign nationals increasingly targeted for assaults and robberies.
The advisory further notes that ongoing fighting persists, signifying that weapons are easily accessible to the public. Additionally, it warns of the U.S. government’s limited capacity to provide emergency consular services to citizens present in South Sudan. This warning arrives amidst heightened tensions that threaten the precarious peace agreement established in 2018 between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.
Recent clashes in Upper Nile State involving an armed faction and government forces culminated in the arrests of significant allies of Vice President Machar, including a key minister and a deputy army chief. Following these detentions, military personnel encircled Machar’s residence in Juba, raising concerns among supporters who fear that such actions may jeopardize the fragile peace accord that concluded the civil conflict between Machar’s loyal factions and Kiir’s forces.
Compounding the security situation, a United Nations helicopter was attacked during an evacuation mission in Nasir on Friday, signaling the deepening of the crisis. In light of the escalating volatility, the State Department recommends that any Americans remaining in South Sudan “exercise extreme caution,” particularly within the capital, Juba. Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth was not immediately available for commentary.
The United States has advised the withdrawal of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan in response to rising violent crime and ongoing conflict. The heightened advisory level reflects concerns over safety, particularly amidst political tensions threatening the existing peace agreement. Recent events, including targeted arrests and assaults on UN personnel, further underscore the urgent need for caution among remaining citizens. The situation remains precarious, warranting close attention and decisive action.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
