The U.S. has ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan due to increased violence. The travel advisory remains at Level 4, warning against travel and highlighting the risk of violent crime. Political tensions between President Kiir and Vice President Machar hinder peace, while the U.S. possesses limited consular support capabilities in the region.
The United States has ordered the immediate evacuation of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan’s capital due to escalating violence, including increased crime, kidnappings, and armed conflict. The U.S. Department of State announced this directive and maintains a travel advisory Level 4 for the country, advising against travel by Americans.
The travel advisory highlights the prevalence of violent crime in South Sudan, such as carjackings, shootings, assaults, and kidnappings occurring throughout the nation, including in the capital, Juba. Foreign nationals have also experienced severe crimes, including rape and armed robbery.
Importantly, the U.S. government possesses limited capabilities to provide emergency consular services to citizens in South Sudan. The heightened violence poses a severe threat to the fragile peace agreement established between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, who have a history of adversarial relations.
The peace deal signed in 2018 aimed to conclude a brutal civil war that claimed over 400,000 lives; however, political rivalries continue to hinder stability. Kiir’s suspicion of Machar’s ambitions and Machar’s characterization of Kiir as a dictator highlight the ongoing challenges.
The State Department’s Level 4 travel advisory is a precautionary measure signifying significant life-threatening risks, encouraging Americans traveling to South Sudan to take extreme care and to prepare a will, as well as provide DNA samples for identification if necessary. Other nations designated at Level 4 include Ukraine, Russia, and Syria, indicating widespread areas of danger for U.S. citizens.
In summary, the U.S. government has ordered non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan amid rising violence and has designated the country with a Level 4 travel advisory, indicating a high risk to safety. Despite a peace deal between the political leaders, ongoing rivalries and crime continue to threaten stability in the region, making travel to South Sudan particularly dangerous at this time.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
