Is It Safe to Travel to South Sudan in 2026?
South Sudan - Level 4: Do Not Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⛔ Do Not Travel
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to South Sudan or parts of South Sudan due to serious safety concerns. Key factors: crime, kidnapping, civil_unrest, health, natural_disaster.
South Sudan (), officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, Uganda to the south, Kenya to the southeast and to the west by the Central African Republic.
Is It Safe to Travel to South Sudan in 2026?
South Sudan is currently rated Level 4 — Do Not Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Do not travel to South Sudan due to risk of unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, and health threats. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in South Sudan.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- kidnapping
- civil_unrest
- health
- natural_disaster
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Armed conflict is ongoing and includes fighting between various political and ethnic groups., Violent crime is common throughout South Sudan, including Juba., Criminal groups have kidnapped and threatened to kill or hurt people..
Active restrictions in South Sudan:
- Movement restrictions in effect
- Curfew in certain areas
- Security escort may be required
U.S. government personnel are under a strict curfew.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face extreme risks from violent crime and kidnapping, particularly in urban areas like Juba where safety is severely compromised.
Business travelers encounter significant operational risks due to crime, civil unrest, and limited consular support, making travel for work extremely hazardous.
Families with children are at extreme risk due to the lack of healthcare, high crime rates, and potential for kidnapping, making travel with kids highly inadvisable.
Remote workers face extreme risks as connectivity is unreliable and safety is a major concern, with limited infrastructure and high crime rates.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for South Sudan.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- South Sudan
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel1 region
▶South Sudan
Do not travel to South Sudan due to risk of unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, and health threats.
South Sudan has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
South Sudan has an overall threat severity of 9.9 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 9.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 7.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 1/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
South Sudanese Pound (SSP)
Language
English
Notable restrictions:
- Reporting in South Sudan without the proper documentation from the South Sudanese Media Authority is illegal.
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to South Sudan
▶What is the current travel advisory level for South Sudan?
▶Is it safe to travel to South Sudan right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit South Sudan?
▶What vaccines do I need for South Sudan?
▶Is South Sudan safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in South Sudan?
More South Sudan Data
Not Free — 1/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.