The United States was once a champion of South Sudan’s independence. However, the administration under President Trump has unexpectedly canceled visas for all citizens from South Sudan. This decision was taken due to South Sudan’s government’s failure to accept the repatriation of its nationals “in a timely manner.”
Consequently, South Sudanese nationals face the prospect of being deported to a nation teetering on the edge of civil conflict, thereby denying them refuge in the U.S. South Sudan’s government, struggling to meet state demands since its 2011 independence from Sudan, has yet to comment on the decision. The country, home to over 11 million people, relies substantially on foreign aid, which has been impacted by the U.S.’s sweeping aid reductions under Trump’s administration.
Back in the early years of independence, there was optimism and hope, but this dissipated into civil conflict in 2013 as opposing factions within the government, supporting President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar, engaged in combat in the capital, Juba. Once, the divisions between these two leaders were so pivotal to the peace efforts that Pope Francis kneeled to kiss their feet as an urgent plea for reconciliation.
The civil war that ensued claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and lingered even after a fragile peace agreement in 2018, which has yet to see full implementation, much to the international community’s frustration. Despite the critical need for democratic processes, such as a delayed presidential election, President Kiir remains in office, while Machar, aspiring for the presidency, argues he was foreshadowed by a historical prediction made by a seer from his ethnic group.
Tensions escalated just weeks ago when Machar faced arrest, coinciding with the detention of his government and military allies. This occurred after militia members from Machar’s ethnic community took over an army garrison, provoking government reprisals with airstrikes that led to multiple deaths and attacks on a UN helicopter.
Machar’s political faction has since declared that South Sudan’s peace agreement is effectively null. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concerns reminiscent of earlier civil wars in 2013 and 2016, which had previously taken 400,000 lives. In response, some Western nations closed their embassies, and the U.S. reduced its embassy staff.
Since gaining independence, South Sudan’s government has leaned heavily on oil extraction for revenue. Still, widespread corruption has impeded the flow of these resources to South Sudan’s citizens, leaving some public workers unpaid for extended periods. Additionally, conflict in Sudan has disrupted oil exports, while the influx of Sudanese refugees has contributed to instability.
Environmental disasters, including persistent flooding, have displaced communities and shut down educational facilities. The nation’s health and education infrastructure were already some of the weakest globally, heavily reliant on foreign aid, which is now jeopardized by significant U.S. cuts. The Trump administration’s abrupt announcement to revoke all South Sudanese visas immediately represents a significant shift from the previous U.S. stance, which had embraced South Sudan’s independence movement led by figures like Kiir and Machar.
For many years, South Sudanese have found educational and other opportunities in the U.S. This was evident shortly after the visa announcement when a South Sudanese freshman made an appearance in Duke University’s starting lineup during the NCAA basketball tournament’s Final Four. A representative from Duke University acknowledged the visa development and indicated efforts to comprehend its potential impact on their students.
It remains uncertain how many South Sudanese currently hold U.S. visas or how enforcement will proceed. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau mentioned on social media that the visa issue centers around one individual whom South Sudan’s Washington embassy certified but Juba has refused to accept. The individual remains unnamed. The U.S. has stated no further visas will be granted, although this stance could be reassessed once South Sudan offers full cooperation.