By Sabri Dibaco
The Ministry of Interior has dismissed widespread social media reports claiming that South Sudan has introduced new visa regulations granting visa-free entry exclusively to citizens of Egypt and Tanzania, while revising visa fees for other foreign nationals.
In a press statement issued under the leadership of the Minister of Interior, Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu, the ministry said no such changes have been approved and urged the public and the international community to disregard the circulating information.
“The Ministry of Interior unequivocally dismisses these claims as false, misleading, and without any official legal or administrative basis,” the statement reads.
The ministry clarified that neither the Minister of Interior nor the Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passports, and Immigration has issued any directive, policy decision, or legal instrument introducing changes to South Sudan’s immigration or visa regime.
“The Government of the Republic of South Sudan has not promulgated any increasing or restricting visa-free entry exclusively to the nationals of Egypt and Tanzania, nor has it approved the visa fee structure currently circulating in the media,” the ministry stated.
According to the ministry, any amendments to immigration regulations can only be introduced through established legal procedures and are communicated through official government channels before taking effect.
The ministry called on members of the public, diplomatic missions, development partners, airlines, media organisations and the international community to ignore the reports circulating on social media and other unofficial platforms.
“The Ministry of Interior therefore urges the public, diplomatic missions, development partners, airlines, media institutions, and the international community to disregard the misleading reports attributed to external and internal media sources and to rely solely on official statements issued by the Ministry of Interior and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan,” the statement added.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and timely communication of official information concerning immigration policies and matters of national interest.
“The Ministry of Interior remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the timely dissemination of accurate information regarding immigration policies and matters of national public interest in the country and beyond,” the statement reads.
The clarification follows the circulation of social media posts claiming that South Sudan had introduced a new visa regime granting visa-free entry exclusively to nationals of Egypt and Tanzania while imposing revised visa fees on citizens of other countries. The reports generated confusion among travellers, diplomatic missions, airlines, and businesses.
The Ministry of Interior has emphasised that any future changes to the country’s immigration and visa policies will be announced only through official government communication channels after the completion of the required legal and administrative procedures.