The U.S. has ordered non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan due to rising crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict. Travel is discouraged with a Level 4 advisory, highlighting risks to foreign nationals. Tensions are escalating, affecting a fragile peace agreement and prompting warnings for Americans to exercise extreme caution.
The United States has ordered the immediate departure of non-emergency personnel from Juba, South Sudan, due to rising crime rates, kidnappings, and armed conflicts, as communicated by the Department of State. The travel advisory for South Sudan remains at Level 4, indicating that Americans are strongly discouraged from traveling to this East African nation.
The advisory underscores the prevalence of violent crime, such as carjackings, shootings, and kidnappings, with foreign nationals notably at risk of sexual assaults and armed robberies. It is stated that ongoing fighting and the availability of weapons contribute to these security concerns, alongside a limited capacity for the U.S. government to provide consular services in the country.
This warning arises during a period of heightened tensions, threatening the delicate 2018 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. Recent clashes in Upper Nile State resulted in the arrest of significant allies of Mr. Machar, raising alarms among his supporters about the risk of undermining the peace deal that concluded a prolonged civil war.
Additionally, a security crisis was escalated by an attack on a United Nations helicopter involved in an evacuation mission in Nasir. The State Department has urged Americans still present in South Sudan to “exercise extreme caution,” particularly within the capital, Juba. Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth was unavailable for immediate comment regarding these developments.
The U.S. has ordered non-emergency staff to leave South Sudan, reflecting concerns over escalating crime and political instability. The ongoing conflict poses a significant threat to citizens, particularly foreign nationals, amidst the fragile peace established in 2018. The situation necessitates extreme caution among any Americans remaining in the region, heightening awareness of the risks involved.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
