Washington: The United States has canceled all visas held by South Sudan’s passport holders after the country failed to accept disputes about its national return.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has taken positive steps to strengthen immigration enforcement, including repatriation of people deemed illegal in the United States.
The government warns that countries that do not quickly withdraw their citizens will face consequences, including visa sanctions or tariffs.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that South Sudan failed to respect the principle of each country that each country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner and another country, including the United States, sought to remove him.
“Effective immediately, the U.S. State Department is taking action to revoke all visas held by South Sudan passport holders and prevent further issuance to prevent South Sudan passport holders from entering the United States,” Rubio said.
He added: “When South Sudan cooperates fully, we will be ready to review these actions.”
Rubio said it was time for South Sudan’s transitional government to “stop using the United States.”
South Sudan’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
African Union mediators arrived in Juba, South Sudan, this week, with the talks aimed at avoiding a new civil war in the country after the first arrest of Vice President Riek Machar last week.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir’s administration accused Machar of being a long-time rival who led rebels to kill thousands of wars in the 2013-18 war in an attempt to spark a new rebellion.
Machar’s detention followed weeks of fighting between the army and the White militia in the northern part of the Nile River. Machar’s troops were united with the White Army during the Civil War, but denied any current connection.
The war of 2013-18 was mainly along the racial line, with fighters from Dinka (the country’s largest group) following Kiir, while Nuer, the second largest group, was the second largest group supporting Machar.
