South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, on Tuesday called on the government of the United States to revoke its recent decision to cancel all visas issued to South Sudanese passport holders.
This came after the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced last week the revocation of all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and suspended the issuance of new visas.
“South Sudan’s government regrets the incident and respectfully urges the United States government to revoke its recent decision to cancel all visas issued to South Sudanese passport holders,” the Office of the Vice President said in a statement seen by Dawn on Tuesday.
This follows the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of repatriated citizens in a timely manner.
The government had initially rejected the Congolese national named Makula Kintu, impersonating Nimeri Garang from South Sudan after he had arrived from the U.S on April 6, 2025, at Juba International Airport.
The Office of the Vice President reiterated their commitment to supporting the effort of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in resolving the matter.
“It stands ready to assist in any capacity necessary to ensure the restoration of diplomatic relations, more importantly to facilitate the safe and dignified return of all deported citizens. This includes providing logistical support in ensuring the safety and welfare of the people affected,” said the statement.
It said the U.S’s sweeping measure has caused profound concern and hardship among innocent South Sudanese citizens, who have abided by international norms and respected U.S immigration laws.
“We recognize the gravity of the situation and affirm unwavering commitment to engaging constructively with the United States in the spirit of diplomacy and mutual respect to repair and strengthen the bilateral relationship for the benefit of both nations and their people,” it said.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation had given the green light to the entry of a Congolese national who was mistaken for a South Sudanese national while being deported by U.S. immigration officers.
