Do Not TravelUpdated 2026-05-17
Do not travel to South Sudan due to risk of unrest , crime , kidnapping , landmines , and health risks. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in South Sudan due to the health and security situation Family members cannot join U.S. government employees who work in South Sudan. U.S. government personnel working in South Sudan are under a strict curfew. U.S. government personnel must use armored vehicles for nearly all movements. Official travel outside Juba is limited. Because of the serious crime threat in Juba, walking is restricted to a small area near the U.S. embassy during the day. Health On May 15, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions) Travel Health Notice for Ebola for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). On May 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern . Medical services in South Sudan are extremely limited. Adequate medical treatment, as well as access to routine an emergency procedures, is often unavailable, and even minor health issues could require medical evacuation. All medical services, including medical evacuation, are at your expense. If you purchase additional medical insurance, be sure to keep records of all medical services paid for and provided. Unrest Armed conflict is ongoing and includes fighting between various political and ethnic groups. Weapons are readily available to the population. In addition, cattle raids occur throughout the country, often leading to violence. Journalists regularly report being harassed in South Sudan. Many have been killed while covering the conflict. Reporting in South Sudan without the proper documentation from the South Sudanese Media Authority is illegal. Any journalistic work there is very dangerous. Crime Violent crime is common throughout South Sudan, including Juba. This includes