US revokes all visas for South Sudanese nationals over deportation dispute
WASHINGTON — The United States announced Saturday that it is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and halting the issuance of new visas, citing the African nation's refusal to accept deported nationals.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the State Department is taking the action in response to South Sudan's lack of cooperation in repatriating its citizens who have been ordered to leave the US.
"The State Department is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and will suspend the issuance of new ones to prevent further entry," Rubio said.
"Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them."
He accused the transitional government in Juba of 'taking advantage of the United States,' adding that the restrictions would remain in place until South Sudan shows 'full cooperation.'
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 following a referendum but has been mired in political instability and conflict since late 2013, when President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed his deputy, Riek Machar, accusing him of plotting a coup.
Despite peace agreements signed in 2018 and 2022, violence continues to flare across the country. In February, a militia group known as the White Army—comprised mainly of members of Machar's Nuer ethnic group—seized control of a town in Upper Nile State.
In response, several senior figures linked to Machar's Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition were detained, further escalating tensions.
On March 7, President Kiir attempted to ease public fears, saying: "We will not allow our country to return to war. The government will address this crisis." However, reports emerged last week that Machar had been placed under house arrest.
The growing instability has prompted multiple countries—including the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, China, Norway, Poland, Spain, Malaysia, and Austria—to issue travel advisories for South Sudan.
Rubio said the US would reconsider the visa restrictions once South Sudan complies with international norms on repatriation. — Agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
9 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Barrack Says Trump's Vision for Syria is Hopeful and Achievable
US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack has said that President Donald Trump's vision for Syria 'is not only hopeful but achievable.' 'Spent the afternoon at the White House with President Trump and Secretary of State (Marco) Rubio discussing Middle East affairs that all relate to Türkiye and Syria. I can assure you the President's vision with the Secretary's execution is not only hopeful but achievable,' Barrack said on X on Saturday. Meanwhile, Syrian state news agency (SANA) said that the US Senate approved on Saturday a decision to remove Syria from the long-standing list of so-called 'rogue states.' The White House posted on X that Syria had been on the list alongside Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and other countries, and now it is removed. The list, which has been used by the US for nearly three decades, targets countries accused of hostility to American interests, support for terrorism, pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, or serious human rights violations. Also Saturday, Britain welcomed the Syrian government's commitment to cooperation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). A post on the British Foreign and Development Office website via X read that the UK welcomes the Syrian government's strong commitment to turning the page on history, and its determination to ensure the complete destruction of the chemical weapons program dating back to the Assad era. The ministry added: 'We are encouraged by the operational and logistical support Syria has provided for OPCW visits and its commitment to engaging with the international community.'
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
US mulls giving millions to controversial Gaza aid foundation, sources say
WASHINGTON: The State Department is weighing giving $500 million to the new foundation providing aid to war-shattered Gaza, according to two knowledgeable sources and two former US officials, a move that would involve the US more deeply in a controversial aid effort that has been beset by violence and chaos. The sources and former US officials, all of whom requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said that money for Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) would come from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which is being folded into the US State Department. The plan has met resistance from some US officials concerned with the deadly shootings of Palestinians near aid distribution sites and the competence of the GHF, the two sources said. The GHF, which has been fiercely criticized by humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, for an alleged lack of neutrality, began distributing aid last week amid warnings that most of Gaza's 2.3 million population is at risk of famine after an 11-week Israeli aid blockade, which was lifted on May 19 when limited deliveries were allowed to resume. The foundation has seen senior personnel quit and had to pause handouts twice this week after crowds overwhelmed its distribution hubs. The State Department and GHF did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters has been unable to establish who is currently funding the GHF operations, which began in Gaza last week. The GHF uses private US security and logistics companies to transport aid into Gaza for distribution at so-called secure distribution sites. On Thursday, Reuters reported that a Chicago-based private equity firm, McNally Capital, has an 'economic interest' in the for-profit US contractor overseeing the logistics and security of GHF's aid distribution hubs in the enclave. While US President Donald Trump's administration and Israel say they don't finance the GHF operation, both have been pressing the United Nations and international aid groups to work with it. The US and Israel argue that aid distributed by a long-established UN aid network was diverted to Hamas. Hamas has denied that. USAID has been all but dismantled. Some 80 percent of its programs have been canceled and its staff face termination as part of President Donald Trump's drive to align US foreign policy with his 'America First' agenda. One source with knowledge of the matter and one former senior official said the proposal to give the $500 million to GHF has been championed by acting deputy USAID Administrator Ken Jackson, who has helped oversee the agency's dismemberment. The source said that Israel requested the funds to underwrite GHF's operations for 180 days. The Israeli government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The two sources said that some US officials have concerns with the plan because of the overcrowding that has affected the aid distribution hubs run by GHF's contractor, and violence nearby. Those officials also want well-established non-governmental organizations experienced in running aid operations in Gaza and elsewhere to be involved in the operation if the State Department approves the funds for GHF, a position that Israel likely will oppose, the sources said. Gaza hospital officials have said more than 80 people had been shot dead and hundreds wounded near GHF's distribution points between June 1-3. Since launching its operation, the GHF has opened three hubs, but over the past two days, only two of them have been functioning. Witnesses blamed Israeli soldiers for the killings. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots on two days, while on Tuesday it said soldiers had fired at Palestinian 'suspects' advancing toward their positions.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Polish foreign minister takes aim at Musk after Trump clash
WARSAW: Poland's foreign minister poked fun at Elon Musk late on Thursday, returning to a social media spat from March after the Tesla and SpaceX boss spectacularly fell out with US President Donald Trump. Warsaw's top diplomat Radoslaw Sikorski found himself embroiled in an extraordinarily public clash with Musk and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in March after he said Ukraine may need an alternative to the Starlink satellite service. Amid a flurry of posts on his social media platform X, Musk had told Sikorski to 'Be quiet, small man.' On Thursday simmering tensions between Musk and Trump exploded into a public feud, as the president threatened to cut off government contracts to companies run by the world's richest man. Musk suggested Trump should be impeached. Sikorski took aim at Musk in a post on X, saying 'See, big man, politics is harder than you thought.' There was no immediate response to the post from Musk.
