US warns citizens against all travel to South Sudan

The US warned Tuesday its citizens against all travel to the Republic of South Sudan and recommends that US citizens currently in South Sudan depart immediately. The US State Department said in a travel warning that "US citizens who choose to stay in South Sudan despite this warning should review their personal security situation and seriously reconsider their plans to remain." It indicated that the Department of State ordered today the departure of non-emergency US 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 US citizens in South Sudan." Meanwhile, State Department deputy spokesman Marie Harf told reporters "we are deeply troubled by the fighting that continues today in Juba in South Sudan. "We encourage the country's political leaders to refrain from any action that could further escalate an already tense situation and urge them to calm their supporters," she added. She stressed that "it is absolutely critical that political differences be resolved by peaceful and democratic means." She noted "we also call on the government to respect the rule of law, refrain from arbitrary arrests and adhere the principles laid out in their constitution. "Just as the United States stood with the people of South Sudan as their country was founded, we stand with them today and will continue to stand with them through this turmoil," she affirmed. "The people of South Sudan have endured too many years of conflict and sacrificed far too much for their country to be plunged back into turmoil," she remarked. Harf stressed that "the situation is of course very fluid. We will continue to monitor it closely."