The Auswärtiges Amt renewed its strict travel warning for South Sudan on 26 July 2026, underscoring that commercial flights may be suspended without notice and that the embassy’s ability to assist German nationals is extremely limited. The advisory recommends that only mission-critical trips proceed and that organisations prepare professional security concepts and 24/7 tracking. Although the Juba peace talks have reduced open conflict in the capital, inter-communal violence in Jonglei and Unity states continues to disrupt oil-field and NGO operations. Road ambushes on the Juba–Bor highway have increased, forcing aid agencies to rely on costly UN helicopter shuttles. Business travellers must obtain both a visa and a separate travel permit for movements outside Juba. The Foreign Office warns that authorities sometimes delay exit stamps for travellers whose employers have outstanding tax liabilities—an issue that recently stranded several European engineers for five days. Companies expatriating staff to German-funded infrastructure projects should verify medevac contracts, as the EU’s ECHO Flight service remains oversubscribed. Evacuation by road to Uganda may be impossible during the rainy season when Nile tributaries flood key bridges. Risk-management consultants advise adjusting hardship allowances upward and budgeting for armoured vehicles and close-protection teams if travel cannot be postponed.
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
