Statement from NP Heads of Mission in South Sudan and the USA in response to escalating civilian protection risks and visa ban
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUBA and WASHINGTON D.C., 8 April 2025 — As risks of violence escalate in South Sudan, and the US Government revokes visas for all South Sudanese nationals, Nonviolent Peaceforce is calling for civilian rights to be protected.
“South Sudan is facing a critical moment that requires diplomatic, humane leadership – both within the country and beyond,” shared Rosemary Kabaki, Head of Mission for Nonviolent Peaceforce in South Sudan.
“Risks of violence against civilians have increased in recent months, and South Sudanese communities are deeply anxious about what the future holds. It is a time for solidarity and doing everything we can to protect civilian safety and civic space in South Sudan – not treating civilian rights and lives as bargaining chips.”
Across South Sudan, millions of people are facing increasing risks of violence, hunger and displacement. Humanitarian responders, including international organizations like Nonviolent Peaceforce and national civil society organizations, are struggling to address these needs in the wake of the closure of USAID and reductions to humanitarian aid. Amid these challenges, the US Government decided over the weekend to revoke all visas for South Sudanese nationals.
“What is needed now is the US Government to work as partners for peace in South Sudan. Cuts to humanitarian assistance and using visas for cheap politicking only harms civilians and moves us further away from our values as American people. This completely undermines allyship between Americans and South Sudanese people, and our commitment to South Sudanese self-determination” shared Anna Zaros, interim Head of Mission for Nonviolent Peaceforce in the USA.
“Visa applications should be considered on an individual basis, considering the unique protection risks facing each person. Banning citizens from an entire country upends the lives of people who have made their home here through the legal US immigration system, whether they are newly arrived neighbors or have lived in community with us for years. This harmful decision casts out the talents and contributions they are making and puts at risk those who face protection risks in their country of origin,” she said.
NP is an international protection agency with programmes in both South Sudan and the United States. Our mission is to protect civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, build peace side-by-side with local communities, and advocate for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity.
Contact
Media: Claire Guinta, External Relations Manager, [email protected]
Advocacy: Megan Rodgers, U.S. Policy & Advocacy Manager, [email protected]