WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday that the U.S. would be canceling every visa possessed by South Sudanese passengers, blaming the African country's administration for "exploiting the United States."
Each nation should promptly accept the return of its citizens when another country, such as the United States, requests their removal," stated Rubio. He further noted that "the transitional government of South Sudan has not completely upheld this principle.
In addition to canceling visas, Rubio stated that the U.S. would "stop issuing new ones to prohibit South Sudanese passport holders from entering the United States."
The political situation in South Sudan remains delicate, with recent clashes between government forces and armed opposition groups intensifying the strain.
Last week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to regional and international leaders to stop South Sudan from "plunging over the edge" into chaos. another civil war .
Guterres cautioned that the globe's latest addition and among its least developed nations is experiencing "a security crisis" due to escalating conflicts and "political turmoil," which reached a peak with the government detaining First Vice President Riek Machar earlier this week.
The Associated Press