U.S. Revokes Visas for South Sudanese Nationals Over Deportation Dispute

The U.S. visa ban remains in effect as South Sudan grants entry to a contested deportee, with tensions persisting over repatriation protocols.

The U.S. revoked visas for South Sudanese passport holders after South Sudan initially refused to accept a deportee certified as its citizen by its Washington Embassy.
South Sudan later identified the deportee, Makula Kintu, as a Congolese national using falsified documents and denied him entry at Juba International Airport.
In a recent development, South Sudan has decided to grant Kintu entry, citing a commitment to maintaining relations with the U.S. and supporting verified deportations.
U.S. officials maintain that the South Sudanese Embassy's certification of Kintu's nationality is conclusive and that South Sudan must fully cooperate with repatriation efforts.
The U.S. has stated that it will only review the visa revocation measures if South Sudan demonstrates full compliance with deportation agreements.