South Sudan

South Sudan: Various travel information

How do you get to the Republic of South Sudan?

Arriving by plane

If you want to reach South Sudan by plane, you can fly to the capital Juba. The busiest and most developed airport in the young republic is located there. The flights to Juba leave from Khartoum (Sudan) as well as Entebbe (Uganda), Nairobi (Kenya), Cairo (Egypt) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). Juba Airport is also the home base of the Feeder Airlines Company. There are currently no direct flights to Djuba departing from outside Africa.

Other international airports are Malakal (with flights to Addis Ababa and Khartoum), Wau (weekly flights to Khartoum) and Rumbek (also weekly flights to Khartoum).

Rail traffic

There are currently no international rail connections between South Sudan and its neighboring countries. Only one rail connection with Northern Sudan (via Wau) was fully reopened in 2010. Plans to build a railway network and expand it to Kenya and Uganda are currently dreams of the future.

Car traffic

There are road links between South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.

Bus transport

Minibuses and land cruisers drive from Lokichoggio (Kenya) directly to the southern Sudanese capital Juba. The 12 hour drive is interrupted for an overnight stay in Torit. In late summer, buses also run between Kampala, Uganda and the Republic of South Sudan. This route should be avoided by tourists because it runs through an area currently controlled by the Ugandan Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and is therefore not very safe.

Ship traffic

On the White Nile, ship traffic between Juba, Malakal and Kosti is quite irregular but year-round.

Travel in the country

Air traffic

Domestic air connections exist between Juba, Malakal and Wau as well as with other places, some of which have little more than a simple, sandy landing runway.

Rail traffic

South Sudan has a rail network of 248 km in size. The railway connects the northern Sudanese Babonosa with the southern Sudanese Wau. The route was destroyed and partially mined during the long civil war. With the help of UN funds it could be rebuilt. An extension of the route network from Wau to Juba is planned for the future. There should also be connections to Kenyan and Ugandan cities.

Car traffic

In South Sudan you drive on the right side of the road.

The dirt roads of South Sudan are still partially mined because of the civil war; however, since 2005 they have been secured step by step. So far, the mines have prevented the roads from being equipped with a weatherproof gravel surface. What is certain, however, is that the continuous gravel road from Juba (via Wau) to Khartoum can be driven.

In summary, it must be said that the highways in South Sudan are almost all unpaved and the capital Juba has no paved connections to the surrounding area.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of South Sudan is:

Entry and exit regulations

Note

Formalities, visas

To enter South Sudan you need a passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months when you enter the country. You also need a visa, which you can apply for at the South Sudanese liaison office in Brussels responsible for Germany. Visas for South Sudan can also be obtained from the African liaison offices (e.g. in Nairobi) and at the land borders with South Sudan.

Anyone entering the country without a visa can be detained for violating the residence regulations.

One more word about travel permits: These have been officially revoked, but police practice in South Sudan is not uniform. There are various security services that want to see travel permits, especially for Bahr El Gazal, Jonglei, Unity State, Upper Nile and for the border area with Ethiopia. It is therefore advisable to contact the Ministry of Tourism before traveling to South Sudan, which will issue such travel permits free of charge.

Local currency, foreign exchange regulations

The local currency of South Sudan is:

South Sudanese Pound (SDG).

The introduction of the (new) South Sudanese currency was announced by the South Sudanese Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin on July 18th. Established in 2011, with the spread of the currency and the exchange of the old Sudanese pound dragging on for a long time. Two months were given for this, although the logistical problems in the country called this period into question.

The people in the country can exchange their money one for one for the South Sudanese pound. The banknotes depict the national hero John Garang, who formerly led the South Sudanese People's Liberation Army. On the back of the money you can see images that refer to the cultural richness of South Sudan.

• Import and export of the national currency

  The import and export of the national currency is permitted without restriction.

• Import and export of foreign currencies

  The import and export of foreign currencies is permitted without restriction.

Goods and Customs Regulations

Inexpensive goods, souvenirs

Popular souvenirs are basketry, ebony carvings, gold and silversmiths and various other handicrafts. Cheetah skins should not be bought as cheetahs are critically endangered and are covered by the World Wildlife Fund's conservation agreement.

Customs regulations

Items for personal use can be imported duty-free. Live animals can be imported without problems, plants only with a special permit. Pornographic or excessively revealing image and film material may not be imported into the country. Finds from ancient excavation sites as well as protected animals and plants may not be exported from the country.

Travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings

Infectious Diseases

In South Sudan, the following infectious diseases are to be expected in Germany and Central and Northern Europe:

• Malaria: There is a high risk of infection all year round. About 80% to 90% of the infections occur with the very dangerous malaria tropica, the rest with malaria tertiana.
• AIDS, HIV
• Amoebic dysentery
• Bacterial agitation
• Schistosomiasis
• Cholera - but there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
• dengue fever
• Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
• Ebola, outbreaks of this extremely dangerous viral infectious disease occur again and again, but mostly locally
• Filariasis
• Typhus
• Yellow fever - Occurrence approximately in the parts of the country south of the northern 12th parallel
• Guinea worm infection
• Hepatitis A and B
• Japan encephalitis
• Kala-Azar
• Meningococcal meningitis
• Polio, polio
• Sleeping sickness
• rabies
• Typhoid - however, there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
• Tick bite fever

Vaccination recommendations

• Cholera - but only among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
• Diphtheria - a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
• Yellow fever - highly recommended
• Hepatitis A and B
• Japan encephalitis
• Polio, polio - vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
• Meningococcal meningitis
• Tetanus - a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
• Rabies - but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
• Typhoid - but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.

Compulsory vaccination

For all persons older than a year and arriving from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever. South Sudan, south of the north 12th parallel, is a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO.

Yellow fever vaccination of children

In most countries where a yellow fever vaccination is mandatory, this also applies to children over a year old, in some countries even from six months. It should be noted that vaccination against yellow fever had a number of side effects, such as encephalitis. Around two-thirds of those affected were children under six months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then be avoided. Any vaccination against yellow fever may only be carried out in specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers!

Malaria prophylaxis

When traveling to the country it is strongly advised to avoid malariato undergo prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a "stand-by preparation" with you.

South Sudan: Diplomatic missions

Visit Countryaah for a full list of South Sudan embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

German representations in South Sudan

Embassy in Juba (Dschuba)

EU Compound, Kololo Road

Juba

Tel.: 00211 - (0916 - 725 693

The embassy does not perform any legal or consular functions - only emergency aid. No visas are issued.

Representations of South Sudan in Germany

Embassy in Berlin

Leipziger Platz 8

10117 Berlin

Tel: 0049 - (0) 30 -206 445 90

E-Mail: [email protected]

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