Washington, D.C. — United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. government is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, citing the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to cooperate in accepting the timely return of its repatriated citizens.
In a post shared via his official account on X (formerly Twitter), Secretary Rubio stated:
“I am taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and to restrict any further issuance to prevent entry into the United States, effective immediately, due to the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner.”
The move, effective immediately, represents a sharp diplomatic measure intended to pressure the South Sudanese government into fulfilling its obligations under international norms regarding the repatriation of its citizens.The State Department has not yet released further details on how many individuals will be affected by the decision, but officials say it reflects growing frustration in Washington over what it sees as repeated delays and non-cooperation from Juba.
There has been no official response from South Sudanese authorities as of press time.This decision is expected to impact travel and immigration plans for many South Sudanese nationals, including students, professionals, and those seeking asylum or family reunification in the United States.
