‘Travel to South Sudan at your own risk’ – UK travel advisory

February 14, 2020 Newsbeat

FCO mapping areas of insecurity and violent places in the world’s youngest nation (Photo: FCO)

February 14, 2020 (SSNN)—The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the United Kingdom has issued travel advisory against all trips to South Sudan, warning that an impending terrorist attack is likely to target foreign nationals in the capital, Juba.

“If you choose to travel to South Sudan against FCO advice, you should ensure that you exercise caution and vigilance at all times, have robust contingency plans in place, and avoid any travel during the hours of darkness,” said FCO in an updated statement.

The UK government warns its citizens that, with continued intercommunal violence across the country, intermittent attacks between armed groups will continue beyond February after the Parties form a unity government.

“Levels of intercommunal violence remain high across the country, and there are sporadic reports of fighting between armed groups in certain areas. It is possible that such violence will increase in the run-up to, and beyond, the late February deadline for the formation of a new Transitional Government of National Unity.”

“Terrorist attacks in South Sudan can’t be ruled out.”

The statement noted that the ceasefire has been in force since last year, but it’s unlikely to hold due to a number of factors.

“A ceasefire is currently in place, and has largely held since September 2018. But a deterioration in the security situation remains possible, and could be prompted by a number of factors including developments in the fragile economy and the ongoing peace process.”

“As it currently stands, a transitional government is scheduled to form in February 2020. In the event of a serious deterioration, similar to those of July 2016 and December 2013, routes into and out of South Sudan may be blocked, Juba airport may be closed or inaccessible, and flights may be suspended at short notice. Regional developments may also increase the unpredictability of infrastructure and transport, as happened in April 2019 when events in Sudan led to the temporary closure of South Sudan’s airspace. The main road connecting Juba to Uganda is extremely dangerous, with regular reports of accidents and attacks on vehicles by armed groups.”

“There are also regular reports of serious criminality in Juba, particularly during the hours of darkness. There’s no official government curfew in Juba, but the British Embassy and most international organisations observe a self-imposed curfew, the timing of which changes in response to the situation.”