In a significant and controversial move, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the immediate revocation of visas for all South Sudanese passport holders. This decision comes in response to South Sudan’s refusal to accept its citizens who have been deported from the United States.

In a statement released on Saturday, Rubio stated that the US will also deny entry to any South Sudanese citizens arriving at US ports of entry. He attributed this action to “the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner.”

Rubio emphasized that the revocation aligns with President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policy, which prioritizes the removal of unlawful migrants from the US. “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States,” Rubio declared. “Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them.”

The announcement arrives amid escalating concerns that South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, could once again plunge into civil conflict. Just weeks ago, on March 8, the US mandated the evacuation of all non-emergency staff from South Sudan, citing regional fighting that threatened a fragile peace agreement established in 2018.

Previously, South Sudanese nationals in the US had been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allowed them to remain in the country due to the instability back home. However, this status was set to expire on May 3.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but quickly fell into turmoil. A power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar ignited a brutal civil war just two years later, resulting in the deaths of over 400,000 people. Although a 2018 power-sharing agreement calmed some tensions, essential aspects of the deal—such as the creation of a new constitution, elections, and the integration of armed factions—remain unfulfilled. Ongoing violence among ethnic groups continues to plague various regions.

Under Trump's administration, the US has faced international backlash regarding the deportation policies of foreign nationals. In January, Colombian President Gustavo Petro controversially barred two US military flights carrying deported Colombian migrants from landing, only reversing the decision after Trump threatened severe tariffs and sanctions.

As this situation develops, the implications for South Sudanese citizens both at home and in the US remain uncertain, and concerns about the nation's stability deepen.