South Sudan Dismisses Reports of New Visa-Free Entry Policy

South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has dismissed reports circulating on some media platforms alleging that the government has introduced a new visa-free entry policy for nationals of Egypt, Tanzania, and other countries.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry reaffirmed an earlier clarification by the Ministry of Interior, describing the reports as false and misleading.

The ministry stressed that all matters relating to entry, immigration, and visa policies fall under the sole authority of the Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passports and Immigration within the Ministry of Interior.

It urged the public, diplomatic missions, development partners, regional and international organizations, and media outlets to rely only on official government authorities for information concerning immigration and visa regulations.

The ministry further noted that South Sudan is a member of the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union (AU), adding that the government cannot selectively implement visa arrangements for specific countries while disregarding agreements with other member states and bilateral partners.

The statement called on the public and the international community to disregard the misinformation and seek clarification from the relevant authorities whenever questions arise regarding South Sudan’s immigration and visa policies.

The clarification follows widespread reports claiming that South Sudan had introduced new visa-free entry arrangements for citizens of Egypt and Tanzania, claims the government says are inaccurate.