South Sudan

Despite a score of 6, South Sudan is a **DO NOT GO** destination. The score reflects English as official language — it does not reflect any safety, opportunity, or viability. No Bangladeshi worker should travel to South Sudan for employment under any circumstances.

South Sudan is the **world's youngest country** (independence July 9, 2011) and one of the most dangerous. It is rated **Level 4 — Do Not Travel** by the US State Department with **ALL FIVE risk indicators**: Unrest, Crime, Kidnapping, Health, Other. In **March 2026**, the US ordered departure of non-emergency personnel.

THE 2018 PEACE DEAL HAS COLLAPSED:

The 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict (R-ARCSS) — the peace deal between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar — has **effectively collapsed**. In late 2025, Machar was arrested and the SPLM-IO (his party) declared R-ARCSS defunct. Armed clashes have intensified across Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, Unity, and Central Equatoria. National elections, originally scheduled for December 2024, have been postponed to December 2026 but are increasingly uncertain.

**10 million+ people** (approximately 84% of the population) need humanitarian aid in 2026 (UN OCHA). 1.8 million are internally displaced. 2.29 million are refugees in neighbouring countries. The HRW World Report 2026 states the human rights situation has "significantly deteriorated."

US TIP REPORT — TIER 3 WITH CHILD SOLDIERS:

South Sudan is rated **Tier 3** in the 2025 US Trafficking in Persons Report — the lowest tier. The report includes a **"policy or pattern" designation for the use of child soldiers**, one of the most severe findings in the entire TIP framework. **19,000+ children** have been recruited into armed forces and groups since 2013. South Sudan has achieved **zero trafficking convictions for 13 consecutive years**.

There are no BD-specific findings in the TIP report — the Tier 3 designation reflects South Sudan's own internal forced labour and child soldier crisis, not patterns affecting foreign nationals.

ECONOMY — GDP $345, 98% OIL-DEPENDENT:

GDP per capita approximately **$345** (2024, World Bank nominal) — among the lowest in the world, roughly **13% of Bangladesh's level**. The economy contracted 27.6% in 2023/24. Oil production (the source of 98% of government revenue and 80% of GDP) has declined from 350,000 to approximately 160,000 barrels per day. The export pipeline runs through Sudan, which is itself in civil war — disrupting South Sudan's economic lifeline.

The South Sudanese Pound (SSP) has collapsed: **189% depreciation** year-on-year by June 2025. Inflation reached **120.6% in 2024** (183% annual average driven by government borrowing). Any salary denominated in SSP is functionally worthless.

BD CONNECTIONS — PEACEKEEPING, NOT LABOUR:

Bangladesh has meaningful **institutional** connections to South Sudan — but these are NOT labour pathways:

1. **UNMISS Peacekeepers**: Approximately **1,620 Bangladeshi peacekeepers** serve in UNMISS (1,414 Army + 203 Navy + 3 Air Force). **Major General Main Ullah Chowdhury** serves as UNMISS Deputy Force Commander. Bangladesh also deploys a 200-strong Navy Force Marine Unit. In October 2025, 617 troops were ordered withdrawn (post-withdrawal estimate: ~1,003). This is a **Bangladesh Armed Forces deployment**, not individual labour migration.

2. **BRAC**: The Bangladeshi NGO operates in South Sudan in microfinance, agricultural development, community development, and education. Staff are recruited through BRAC's institutional channels.

3. **Agricultural MoU**: Government-to-government agreement for joint crop production on South Sudanese land leased by Bangladesh. Has not generated employment for BD workers.

BD CONSULAR COVERAGE — NONE DOCUMENTED:

**There is NO Bangladesh Embassy in Juba.** The nearest BD missions are the **High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya** (~900km air from Juba) and the **Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia** (~1,060km air). Neither has confirmed non-resident accreditation for South Sudan on their websites. The **Khartoum embassy** (which would have been the natural covering mission) was **evacuated in April 2023** when it was attacked during the Sudan civil war — staff were evacuated, no replacement has been posted, and the embassy website SSL is broken.

BD nationals in South Sudan have **no confirmed BD consular support available**. In a Level 4 country with active armed conflict, this is a survival issue.

IF YOU RECEIVE A JOB OFFER FOR SOUTH SUDAN — it is almost certainly a scam or trafficking operation. South Sudan is not an economy that imports labour. It is an economy receiving humanitarian aid.

US TRAVEL ADVISORY: **Level 4 — Do Not Travel** (all 5 risk indicators). March 2026: ordered departure of non-emergency US personnel. May 2026 update: Ebola outbreak in neighbouring DRC Ituri Province.

The Active Jobs section above shows the current live count for South Sudan.

The Active Jobs section above shows the current live count for South Sudan.

South Sudan's economy is in crisis. GDP per capita $345 (2024, World Bank nominal). 98% oil-dependent with the export pipeline disrupted by the Sudan civil war. SSP collapsed (189% depreciation). 10 million+ people need humanitarian aid. This is not a functioning labour market — it is a humanitarian emergency.

The only significant employment of non-South Sudanese is in the humanitarian/NGO/UN sector (UNMISS ~12,000 peacekeepers, UNHCR, WFP, BRAC). These positions require specific qualifications and institutional recruitment channels, not BD labour migration agencies.

GDP per capita approximately $345 (2024, World Bank nominal) — roughly 13% of Bangladesh's level. SSP collapsed: 189% depreciation, 120.6% inflation (2024). Any salary denominated in SSP is functionally worthless. Only USD-denominated positions (humanitarian/NGO/UN sector) have value — those require institutional recruitment, not BD labour agencies.

## Cost of Living: South Sudan

### Juba (Capital)

Cost of living data for South Sudan is extremely limited and rapidly changing due to currency collapse:

- **Rent (1-bedroom, city center)**: USD 300-800/month (expatriate-standard housing)
- **Rent (basic local housing)**: Significantly cheaper but security concerns
- **Basic meal (local restaurant)**: USD 3-8
- **Utilities**: Unreliable grid electricity. Generator power is expensive. USD 50-200/month.
- **Water**: Clean water access is a significant challenge. Bottled water is a regular expense.

### Key Problems

1. **Currency collapse**: Prices in SSP change rapidly. The 189% annual depreciation means local prices double every few months. International organizations price in USD.
2. **Security costs**: Living in Juba requires security considerations — compounds with guards, vetted transportation. These are significant hidden costs.
3. **Medical**: Extremely limited medical services. Even basic care may require evacuation to Nairobi (Kenya) or Kampala (Uganda). Medical evacuation insurance is essential and expensive.
4. **Food insecurity**: South Sudan itself is food-insecure. WFP provides food aid to millions. Imported food is expensive due to logistics challenges and currency depreciation.
5. **Infrastructure**: Roads deteriorate rapidly, especially during the rainy season. Domestic flights are the primary long-distance transport.

There is no Bangladeshi civilian community in South Sudan. BD presence is entirely institutional: approximately 1,620 UNMISS peacekeepers (Bangladesh Armed Forces deployment) and BRAC staff (institutional recruitment).

BD consular coverage: **None documented.** No BD embassy in Juba (the previous claim was incorrect). Khartoum embassy evacuated April 2023. Nearest BD missions: Nairobi HC (~900km) and Addis Ababa Embassy (~1,060km) — neither has confirmed South Sudan coverage.

## Legitimate Uses of the South Sudan eVisa — Extreme Risk

### Humanitarian/Development Work — The Primary Legitimate Use

The vast majority of legitimate foreign visitors to South Sudan are:
- **UN personnel**: UNMISS (peacekeeping), UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, WHO
- **NGO workers**: BRAC, MSF, IRC, Oxfam, Save the Children, and hundreds of others
- **Journalists**: Covering the humanitarian crisis and conflict
- **Diplomatic personnel**: Limited embassy operations

These visitors use the eVisa for initial entry and typically have organizational security protocols, medical evacuation coverage, and institutional support.

### Oil Sector — Limited Access

Chinese companies (CNPC) dominate the oil sector. Some technical/engineering visits occur, but the oil pipeline disruption (due to Sudan conflict) has reduced activity.

### Tourism — NOT Recommended

South Sudan has no tourism infrastructure. Adventure travel operators do not routinely operate in South Sudan. The national parks (Boma, Badingilo) have wildlife but are inaccessible and unsafe.

### What the eVisa is NOT For

- **Employment of any kind**: Level 4. Currency collapsed. No labor market. Foreign nationals are targets of violent crime.
- **Individual travel**: The State Department advises against travel for any reason. Even Juba is unsafe.
- **Any recruitment offer**: If you receive a recruitment offer for work in South Sudan — from any source — it is almost certainly a scam or trafficking operation. Legitimate employment in South Sudan is through institutional channels (UN, BRAC, international NGOs) with organizational security and medical evacuation support.