The U.S. Department of State has renewed its travel advisory for South Sudan as of November 13, 2025, maintaining a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning. The updated advisory now includes “health” and “unrest” as risk indicators and an updated summary.
According to the advisory, Americans are urged not to travel to South Sudan due to ongoing unrest, crime, kidnapping risks, landmines, and significant health threats. The department notes that the U.S. government’s ability to provide emergency consular services in the country is limited.
U.S. government personnel stationed in South Sudan are under strict curfew requirements and must use armored vehicles for nearly all movements. Their official travel outside Juba is restricted, and because of the serious crime threat in Juba, walking is limited to a small area near the embassy during daylight hours.
The advisory describes ongoing armed conflict involving various political and ethnic groups, with weapons widely available among the population. Cattle raids remain common and frequently lead to violence. Journalists have been harassed or killed while covering events in South Sudan; working without proper documentation from local authorities is illegal and dangerous.
Violent crime—including carjackings, shootings, ambushes, assaults, robberies, kidnappings, rape, and sexual assault—is reported throughout South Sudan. Foreign nationals have been victims of such crimes. Kidnapping for ransom occurs occasionally, mainly targeting local citizens.
Landmines pose another danger in many parts of the country; while most are marked, unmarked unexploded ordnance remains a persistent risk causing casualties annually.
Medical services are described as extremely limited within South Sudan. Adequate treatment may be unavailable even for minor health issues and could require costly medical evacuation at travelers’ own expense.
The State Department advises U.S. citizens who are already in South Sudan not to rely on government assistance for evacuation in emergencies and urges them to have independent plans in place. Recommendations include reviewing crisis information resources provided by the government; avoiding known landmine areas; staying alert to local news; maintaining communication plans with family or employers; drafting legal documents such as wills or powers of attorney; leaving DNA samples with a medical provider for identification if needed; ensuring insurance coverage includes medical evacuation; enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP); and checking both the Country Security Report for South Sudan and health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For more information or assistance, individuals can contact the U.S. Embassy in Juba via Kololo Road or reach out through phone numbers provided by consular affairs offices or through public email addresses listed on the embassy’s official website https://ss.usembassy.gov/.
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