South Sudan dismisses reports of new visa rules, says immigration policy unchanged

South Sudan's Minister of Interior, Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu, whose ministry dismissed reports of a new visa policy granting exclusive visa-free entry to Egyptian and Tanzanian nationals (Photo: Handout)

South Sudan has dismissed reports claiming it has introduced a new visa regime granting visa-free entry exclusively to citizens of Egypt and Tanzania, saying no changes have been made to the country's immigration policy.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior, the government said social media posts and media reports circulating in recent days were false and had no legal or administrative basis.

“The Ministry of Interior unequivocally dismisses these claims as false, misleading, and without any official legal or administrative basis,” the statement said.

The ministry clarified that neither Interior Minister Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu nor the Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passports and Immigration had issued any directive or policy introducing new visa regulations or revising visa fees.

It added that the government had not approved any policy granting visa-free entry exclusively to citizens of Egypt and Tanzania, nor had it endorsed the visa fee schedule circulating online.

“Any amendments to immigration regulations are undertaken through established legal procedures and communicated exclusively through official government channels before coming into force,” the ministry said.

The clarification follows widespread reports suggesting South Sudan had revised its visa policy to exempt only Egyptian and Tanzanian nationals from visa requirements, raising questions about the country's existing regional commitments.

South Sudan is a member of the East African Community (EAC), whose partner states have agreed to facilitate the free movement of citizens across the region.

Under the current arrangement, citizens of EAC partner states, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, are eligible for visa-free entry into South Sudan, subject to applicable immigration procedures.

The ministry urged the public, diplomatic missions, airlines, development partners and media organisations to disregard the misleading reports and rely only on official government communication for information on immigration policy.

Source: https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/south-sudan/381275/south-sudan-dismisses-reports-of-new-visa-rules-says-immigration-policy-unchanged