South Sudan on Friday, 26 June formally called on foreign governments to lift Ebola-related travel and visa restrictions imposed on its citizens, warning that the measures are preventing people from accessing life-saving medical care and education abroad. The appeal was made at a joint press conference with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Juba, the country's capital.

The Human Cost of Travel Restrictions

Francis Oromo, Undersecretary in South Sudan's Ministry of Health, made the government's position unambiguous. 'There is no Ebola here. No one is dying here. But people are now dying because they are unable to travel abroad for medical treatment,' he said.

Oromo stressed that the restrictions are causing collateral harm to South Sudanese citizens who depend on international travel for healthcare and higher education — populations with few domestic alternatives.

South Sudan's Surveillance Record

Health authorities confirmed that all seven suspected Ebola cases identified nationwide — including four in Juba — have tested negative. The Ministry of Health noted that the country activated its emergency response plan immediately after outbreaks were reported in neighbouring countries, deploying response teams to high-risk states, reinforcing disease surveillance networks, and expanding isolation capacity.

South Sudan continues to face elevated risk owing to significant cross-border movement and its geographic proximity to affected areas. Health authorities are coordinating with neighbouring countries, regional health bodies, and international partners to strengthen information-sharing and surveillance mechanisms.

WHO Backs South Sudan's Ebola-Free Status

Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative in South Sudan, reaffirmed that the country remains Ebola-free. He noted that the detection and investigation of suspected cases demonstrates that the national surveillance system is functioning effectively. 'From a scientific point of view, WHO does not recommend border closures or travel restrictions,' Karamagi stated.

The WHO's position aligns with established international health regulations, which caution against travel bans as a disease-control measure, citing their limited epidemiological benefit and significant socioeconomic harm.

Regional Ebola Outbreak: Scale and Funding Gap

The broader regional picture remains serious. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has appealed for 1.4 billion US dollars to fund Ebola outbreak response efforts across the region.

During an online press briefing on Thursday, Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya disclosed that a total of 1,138 confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola cases and 293 deaths have been recorded across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda — a case fatality rate of approximately 25.75 per cent. Of these, 20 confirmed cases and two deaths were recorded in Uganda. So far, 136 patients have recovered from the disease.

What Comes Next

With the DRC-Uganda outbreak still active and cross-border movement a persistent risk factor, South Sudan's ability to maintain its Ebola-free status will depend on sustained surveillance and regional cooperation. The government's appeal for lifting travel restrictions is likely to intensify as the humanitarian costs of the bans become more visible — and as WHO's scientific guidance against such measures gains wider international acknowledgement.