In a statement issued on Monday, South Sudan’s Ministry of Interior said it had become aware of social media posts and media reports alleging that the country had adopted new immigration rules granting visa-free entry only to citizens of Egypt and Tanzania while introducing revised visa charges for other foreign nationals, including Rwandans.
The ministry rejected the claims, insisting that no changes had been made to the country’s immigration or visa policy.
“The Ministry of Interior unequivocally dismisses these claims as false, misleading, and without any official legal or administrative basis,” the statement said.
The clarification came after reports emerged that South Sudan had revised its visa policy, with Rwandans and citizens of several other East African countries expected to pay $50 (about Rwf 74,000) for a single-entry visa, $125 (Rwf 184,000) for a three-month multiple-entry visa, and $250 (Rwf 368,000 )for a six-month multiple-entry visa, while travellers from Tanzania and Egypt would be exempt from visa requirements.
The reports also indicated that travellers from most other African countries would pay $100 for a single-entry visa, with higher charges for multiple-entry visas.
The information sparked concern across the region, particularly among EAC member states, as it appeared to contradict the bloc’s commitment to facilitate the free movement of people, labour and services.
However, South Sudan said neither Interior Minister Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu nor the Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passports and Immigration had issued any directive or policy introducing such changes.
“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 said.
It added that any amendments to immigration regulations would only be introduced through established legal procedures and communicated through official government channels before taking effect.
The ministry urged the public, diplomatic missions, airlines, development partners, media organisations and the international community to disregard the reports and rely only on official government communications regarding immigration policies.
South Sudan joined the East African Community in 2016. Under the EAC Common Market Protocol, partner states are working toward the free movement of people, labour, goods and services across the regional bloc, although implementation of the agreement varies among member states.
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