In a significant policy shift, South Sudan has decided to permit the entry of a man deported from the United States, marking an effort to ease diplomatic strains following U.S. visa restrictions placed on South Sudanese citizens. The decision aims to foster better relations amid mounting tensions and fears of renewed civil conflict in South Sudan.
South Sudan Opens Doors for Deportee in Response to U.S. Visa Crisis
South Sudan Opens Doors for Deportee in Response to U.S. Visa Crisis
The South Sudanese government has agreed to accept a man deported from the U.S., aiming to resolve escalating visa tensions between the two nations.
South Sudan has announced it will allow the entry of a man deported from the United States, part of a strategy to alleviate rising tensions linked to a visa dispute with Washington. The move follows U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent announcement claiming the U.S. would revoke visas for all South Sudanese citizens due to the South Sudanese government’s refusal to accept their citizens who were being deported from the U.S.
Initially, South Sudan's foreign ministry asserted that the deportation was based on a case concerning a man incorrectly identified as a South Sudanese national. In a surprising reversal, South Sudan has now confirmed that they would accept the individual, who has been clarified to be from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with an expected arrival in Juba soon.
The South Sudan foreign ministry stated that authorities at Juba International Airport have been instructed to facilitate the man's entry. Furthermore, they expressed willingness to support the return of genuine South Sudanese nationals facing deportation from the U.S.
Rubio's announcement represented a notable escalation, marking the first instance of a blanket visa policy targeting a country since the previous Trump administration, enforcing a stricter stance on immigration. He pointed to the "failure of South Sudan's transitional government" to promptly accept its citizens as justification for the U.S. actions.
In reaction, South Sudan expressed regret over the sweeping measures taken against all citizens based on a single incident of misidentification, clarifying their position on the individual involved. However, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau dismissed South Sudan's explanation as "legally irrelevant," insisting that the South Sudanese embassy in the U.S. confirmed the individual as one of their nationals.
In recent statements, South Sudan's Information Minister accused the U.S. of exacerbating tensions surrounding the country's internal issues. This diplomatic conflict emerges amidst growing fears of civil unrest in South Sudan, particularly after the detention of First Vice-President Riek Machar and increasing violence threatening a fragile peace established after years of conflict.
Previously, South Sudanese in the U.S. benefitted from Temporary Protected Status, which is set to expire shortly, leaving many in precarious situations as tensions flare in their homeland.
