US Orders Non-Emergency Staff to Leave South Sudan Amid Rising Tensions

On March 8th, the United States ordered the immediate departure of non-emergency government personnel from South Sudan due to escalating violence and instability. The US State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory, warning American citizens not to travel to the country. The advisory cited widespread violent crime, including kidnappings, shootings, and armed robberies, as well as the US government’s limited ability to provide emergency consular services.

The security situation in South Sudan has deteriorated due to increasing tensions between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, whose rivalry has long been seen as a major obstacle to peace. A peace agreement signed in 2018 ended a five-year civil war that claimed over 400,000 lives. However, recent clashes involving government forces and armed militias have raised concerns about a potential return to large-scale conflict.

In a recent escalation, a UN helicopter evacuating national army personnel was shot at on March 7, resulting in multiple fatalities, including a crew member. Additionally, security forces arrested the deputy chief of the army and two ministers allied with Machar, a move the opposition condemned as a serious violation of the peace agreement. The ongoing violence has alarmed the international community, with the UN Human Rights Commission warning of a dangerous regression that threatens years of progress.

The State Department’s advisory urged Americans still in South Sudan to exercise extreme caution, avoid crowded areas, and maintain emergency communication plans. It also reminded US citizens to leave DNA samples with their medical providers for identification purposes in case of emergencies, a precaution applied only in the most dangerous travel advisories. South Sudan now joins countries like Ukraine, Russia, Syria, and Haiti on the US government’s highest-risk list.

Despite assurances from President Kiir that the country will not return to war, fighting has continued in several regions, particularly in Upper Nile state. The situation remains unstable due to the presence of heavily armed civilian groups and ethnic militias. Sporadic violence has persisted since the 2018 peace deal, with key provisions—such as constitutional reforms and military integration—remaining unimplemented.

As South Sudan approaches its first-ever elections, uncertainty looms over the fragile peace. The withdrawal of US personnel signals increasing international concern, highlighting the risks posed by unresolved political divisions and escalating violence in the world’s youngest nation.