South Sudan Denounces U.S. Visa Ban, Claims Misidentification of Nationality

South Sudan’s foreign ministry criticized the U.S. visa ban imposed on its citizens, attributing it to the misidentification of a deported man. Amid growing tensions in the region, the government called for a resolution, clarifying the error that led to the broader visa suspension.

South Sudan has voiced its discontent over the U.S. government's recently announced visa ban, arguing that the measure was predicated on a misidentification involving an individual who is actually a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The visa prohibition was declared by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday, with reasons focusing on South Sudan's alleged failure to accept repatriated citizens deported from the United States.

The South Sudanese foreign ministry contended that the person at the core of the incident, who was denied entry following deportation, was not a South Sudanese national but one from Congo, and maintained that this individual had been duly returned to the USA for further processing. This ban marks a notable shift, as it is the first time all passport holders from a single nation have been targeted under the Biden administration, reminiscent of the past stringent immigration policies during Trump's presidency.

Rubio pointed out that any South Sudanese citizens arriving in the U.S. will also be barred at entry points until the transitional government demonstrates improved compliance in accepting citizens to be repatriated. He indicated his openness to revisiting the situation should South Sudan cooperate effectively.

But South Sudan's Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, stated that the U.S. was attempting to cast a negative light on the existing situation in the country, as it is unreasonable for a sovereign nation to accept deportees at this time.

Amid these diplomatic tensions, fears are on the rise that South Sudan could spiral back into civil war following the house arrest of First Vice-President Riek Machar, accused by President Salva Kiir of plotting a fresh uprising. The U.S. has also advised its non-emergency personnel in South Sudan to evacuate due to escalating violence that threatens a fragile peace agreement established in 2018, which concluded a brutal five-year civil conflict.

The Temporary Protected Status that previously granted South Sudanese nationals safety in the U.S. is set to expire on May 3, adding another layer of urgency to discussions about the future status of South Sudanese citizens abroad.