There was no change to the advisory level. The “health” and “unrest” risk indicators were added. Advisory summary was updated.

Do not travel to South Sudan due to risk of unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, and health threats.

Advisory summary

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in South Sudan.

• U.S. government personnel working in South Sudan are under a strict curfew.
• U.S. government personnel must use armored vehicles for nearly all movements.
• Official travel outside Juba is limited.
• Because of the serious crime threat in Juba, walking is restricted to a small area near the embassy during the day.

Unrest
Armed conflict is ongoing and includes fighting between various political and ethnic groups. Weapons are readily available to the population. In addition, cattle raids occur throughout the country, often leading to violence.

Journalists regularly report being harassed in South Sudan and many have been killed while covering the conflict. Reporting in South Sudan without the proper documentation from the South Sudanese Media Authority is illegal. Any journalistic work there is very dangerous.

Crime
Violent crime is common throughout South Sudan, including Juba. This includes carjackings, shootings, ambushes, assaults, robberies, and kidnappings.

Foreign nationals have been the victims of rape, sexual assault, armed robberies, and other violent crimes.

Kidnapping
Criminal groups have kidnapped and threatened to kill or hurt people in order to force a third party, like a government, to act or abstain from doing something as a condition of release.

Kidnapping for ransom happens occasionally in South Sudan. Criminal groups most frequently target local citizens.

Landmines
Landmines are sparsely located throughout the country. While most locations are marked, unmarked unexploded ordinance remains a threat and causes multiple casualties each year.

Health
Medical services in South Sudan are extremely limited. Adequate medical treatment, as well as access to routine and emergency procedures, is often unavailable, and even minor health issues could require medical evacuation. All medical services, including medical evacuation, are at your expense. If you purchase additional medical insurance, be sure to keep records of all medical services paid for and provided.

For U.S. citizens in South Sudan:

• Do not travel to South Sudan for any reason.
• Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on crisis and evacuations.
• Review our information on travel to high-risk areas, crime, and for victims of crime.
• Avoid locations where landmines are known to exist. Be alert to signs that mark unexploded landmines. Be aware that locations of landmines and unexploded ordnance are often not known, marked, or easy to recognize.
• Monitor local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans.
• Stay aware of your surroundings.
• Draft a will. Designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries or draft a power of attorney.
• Develop a communication plan with your family, your employer, or your host organization. List how and when you will confirm you are safe (text or call). Specify how often you will do this.
• Establish a proof of life protocol with your loved ones. If you are taken hostage, your loved ones will know specific questions (and answers) to ask the hostage-takers to confirm you are being held captive and alive.
• Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them for identification purposes.
• Make sure your insurance includes specific coverage for medical evacuation from South Sudan.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. government. Enrolling helps the U.S. government contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for South Sudan.
• Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the latest Travel Health Information for South Sudan.
• Whether you are a first-time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist.
• We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.