The U.S. has mandated the immediate withdrawal of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan due to increased crime and conflict. The travel advisory is at Level 4, warning Americans against travel to the country. Ongoing violence and tensions threaten a fragile peace agreement between key political figures.
The United States has instructed the immediate departure of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan’s capital amid rising tensions and security concerns, as announced by the Department of State. The travel advisory for South Sudan remains at Level 4, indicating a high-risk situation where Americans are advised against traveling to the nation due to various criminal activities, including kidnappings and violent assaults.
The advisory details the prevalence of violent crime such as carjackings and shootings, as well as the targeting of foreign nationals in serious offenses. Furthermore, it mentions that ongoing conflicts contribute to the dangerous environment, declaring that “weapons are readily available to the population” and highlighting the U.S. government’s constrained capability to offer emergency consular services in the region.
The alert arrives during escalating tensions that jeopardize the tenuous 2018 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. Recent clashes in Upper Nile State between an armed faction and government forces resulted in the detention of significant allies of Machar, which advocates fear could threaten the peace deal that concluded a civil war between their factions.
In related developments, a United Nations helicopter evacuation mission recently came under attack in Nasir, marking a further deterioration of the security situation. In light of these events, the State Department has urged any remaining Americans in South Sudan to “exercise extreme caution” while navigating the risks, particularly in the capital Juba. Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth was unavailable for comment regarding these developments.
In summary, the U.S. government has ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan and has maintained a high travel advisory level due to significant security risks. The situation is exacerbated by ongoing violence and tensions surrounding the fragile peace agreement between prominent political leaders. The U.S. has recommended that remaining citizens in the country proceed with extreme caution as the security landscape continues to deteriorate.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
