The U.S. Department of State has ordered non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan due to escalating violence. A Level 4 travel advisory warns Americans against traveling to the country, citing high rates of violent crime. The advisory conveys serious concerns regarding safety and limited emergency services.
The United States has mandated the immediate exit of non-emergency staff from South Sudan’s capital due to rising violence. According to the U.S. Department of State, escalating issues of crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict necessitated this decision. The travel advisory for South Sudan remains at Level 4, indicating that U.S. citizens are strongly discouraged from traveling to the region.
The advisory explicitly mentions the frequency of violent crimes in South Sudan, including carjackings, shootings, and kidnappings. It states that foreign nationals have faced serious threats such as armed robbery and sexual assaults. Additionally, the U.S. government mentioned its limited capacity to extend emergency consular services to its citizens in South Sudan.
Rising violence poses significant risks to the tenuous peace established in a 2018 agreement between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, following a civil war that resulted in over 400,000 fatalities. Despite being in a national unity government, the political tension between Kiir and Machar continues to hinder stability, as they view each other with mutual distrust.
The State Department issues travel advisories, with Level 4 being the most severe, reserved for situations involving life-threatening dangers. Such advisories include recommendations for U.S. citizens to prepare wills and provide DNA samples for identification purposes. For those who may still consider travel to South Sudan, the department advises exercising extreme caution throughout the country, including in the capital Juba.
Several other countries also fall under the Level 4 advisory, including Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Iraq, Venezuela, and Haiti, reflecting global security concerns.
In conclusion, the U.S. government’s order for non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan highlights the deteriorating security situation characterized by increased violence and crime. With a Level 4 travel advisory in effect, the dangers faced by travelers are substantial. The ongoing political conflict between leaders further complicates the situation, emphasizing the urgency for Americans to reevaluate travel plans to this region.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
