Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 17, 2013. The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to the Republic of South Sudan and recommends that U.S. citizens currently in South Sudan depart immediately. U.S. citizens who choose to stay in South Sudan despite this warning should review their personal security situation and seriously reconsider their plans to remain. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning issued on October 22, 2013, to reflect the current lack of security and risk of remaining in South Sudan.
On December 17, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel from South Sudan because of ongoing political and social unrest. The Embassy is also suspending normal operations until further notice and cannot provide routine consular services to U.S. citizens in South Sudan.
U.S. citizens who choose to remain in South Sudan and seek routine consular services should contact the U.S. embassies in Uganda, Ethiopia, or Kenya. U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance should contact the U.S. Embassy by phone at 211-955-456-050 or by email at [email protected].
U.S. citizens can obtain global updates from the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website, where you can find the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information. U.S. citizens in South Sudan can obtain the latest security information by contacting the U.S. Department of State at [email protected]. Families and friends of U.S. citizens in South Sudan can email [email protected] with as much of the following information as possible about U.S. citizens in South Sudan: name, age or date of birth, passport number, phone number(s) or e-mail address(es), current location and status in South Sudan.
Current information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
If you are going to live in or travel to South Sudan despite this Travel Warning, the Embassy strongly urges you to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). By enrolling in STEP, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. Enrolling in STEP will also make it easier for us to contact you in the event of an emergency. You should remember to keep all of your information in STEP up to date; it is particularly important when you enroll or update your information to include a current phone number and e-mail address.
Source: state.gov
