South Sudan 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Juba. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in South Sudan. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s South Sudan country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private- sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses South Sudan at Level 4, indicating travelers should not travel to the country due to crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Juba as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Reliable, official statistics on crime are not available in South Sudan. U.S. Embassy Juba relies on the reporting of local staff, the United Nations, other embassies, and NGOs to obtain limited statistics/reports of crimes. As the population continues to rise in Juba, so does crime. This trend links directly to continued political instability, poor infrastructure, widespread corruption, and a growing economic crisis. Years of civil war, tribal conflict, and political unrest have provided the population with ready access to weapons and the knowledge of how to use them. Gunfire, especially at night, is common. Violent crime (e.g. murder, armed robbery, home invasion, cattle raiding, kidnapping, and harassment) is rampant. In Juba, the most frequently reported violent crimes include armed robbery, home invasion, and carjacking. Neighborhoods where government leaders, business professionals, NGO staff, and foreign diplomats reside are not immune from criminal activity. Armed robberies, compound invasions, and carjacking are the most common types of violent crime to affect expatriates. These crimes generally occur during nighttime hours and often involve multiple perpetrators. In some cases, perpetrators wear host- nation security service uniforms, carry military weapons, and use the ruse of legitimate checkpoints or official business to stop individuals or gain access to compounds. Those traveling alone or in small groups during the late evening hours (especially those walking) are often the target of armed robberies. As the NGO community implemented earlier evening curfews in 2019, crime during the daytime has increased. Home/compound invasions are common, especially in facilities with weak security, poor exterior lighting, and poor access control. Generally, perpetrators do not kill or seriously harm their victims, but commonly threaten/use force. Attempts to resist perpetrators provoke violence. Review OSAC’s reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. Outside Juba, road ambushes and banditry are common and often involve violence. Traveling in groups while in towns, and in multiple cars while outside of towns reduces the chance of becoming a target for crime or harassment. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind. South Sudan 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Crime and violence targeting NGOs increased in 2019. Notably, there was a spate of NGO compound attacks and break-ins in Upper Nile State’s Maban County in December 2019; in one case, criminals assulated aid workers. Humanitarian convoys are frequent targets of roadside robberies, unauthorized taxation and fees, and harassment by authorities, while access challenges and localized bureaucratic impediments consistently hinder the movement of humanitarian personnel and supplies. South Sudan remains the most dangerous country for humanitarians, experiencing the highest number of security incidents against aid operations globally since 2015, according to the Aid Worker Security Database. Non-violent petty theft and fraud are pervasive throughout South Sudan, and usually involve targets of opportunity. These crimes include pickpocketing, theft of items from vehicles, and fraudulent currency exchange. Drive-by muggings are another common occurrence. Carry items on the side of the body away from the flow of traffic. Thefts usually occur near restaurants, banks, and other high-traffic areas. These crimes usually involve criminal groups or gangs, each with unique methods and targets. If a certain type of theft is successful, it is likely more will follow, as gangs will attempt to replicate another’s success. Avoid public areas (e.g. open markets, recreational areas) at night; large crowds gather in these locations, and with limited lighting, petty theft and other crimes of opportunity are common. Review OSAC’s reports, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit. Cybersecurity Issues You must register satellite phones upon arrival in South Sudan. Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? Transportation-Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions Road conditions are extremely poor. Most roads are unpaved and lack proper maintenance. Unpaved roads usually resemble riverbeds strewn with ruts, rocks, ditches, or other obstacles that make passage very difficult. During the rainy season (May-November), roads can become impassable due to flooding and the lack of drainage. There is a threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO) or explosive remnants of war (ERW), including landmines, on or near major roads. Road travel times are often much longer than expected due to poor road conditions, disabled vehicles, and slow traffic. Consider using a vehicle-tracking system. You must carry an international driver's license and third-party liability insurance from the government to drive. Still, many local drivers are uninsured. Those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol face fines, jail sentences, and corporal punishment. Road banditry is pervasive, especially during hours of darkness. Only conduct travel between major towns during daylight hours, and then only in pairs or groups of vehicles. Vehicles should carry food, water, a first-aid kit, satellite communications, and tools/supplies to repair damage to or extricate a vehicle. Reliable mechanics and spare parts are rare outside of Juba. South Sudan 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Large, overloaded trucks pose a risk to traffic between major towns. In major towns, pedestrian traffic is heavy. Pedestrians and livestock often wander on/near roads. Police coverage of roadways outside of major towns is limited. Traffic controls are rare in Juba and non- existent throughout the rest of South Sudan. Traffic police officers may be present at busy intersections to control traffic, but they are poorly trained and generally spend their time inspecting commercial vehicles rather than controlling traffic. Some major intersections feature solar-powered traffic lights, but local drivers, especially boda-bodas, routinely ignore the signals. Traffic accidents are common, especially on paved roads where speeds are higher, and at intersections where traffic controls do not exist. Drivers should pay extra attention when entering intersections, checking all sides of the vehicle, as boda-bodas are unpredictable and may pass on either side. Security checkpoints usually operate at night, but can occur at any time. Authorities have stopped and harassed diplomatic, UN, and NGO drivers at these checkpoints. Security officials at checkpoints often appear intoxicated, and on occasion demand money/food. If you become involved in an accident resulting in death or injury, report the incident to the nearest police station or police officer as soon as possible. Remain inside the vehicle and wait for police. If a hostile mob forms or you feel your safety is in danger, leave the scene and proceed directly to the nearest police station to report the incident. Do not stop at the scene of an accident or at intersections where people have gathered, as mobs can develop and turn violent quickly. Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad. Public Transportation Conditions Motorbike taxis (boda-bodas) and minivan taxis are common methods of travel, and pose a hazard to other drivers. Vehicles make frequent stops, weave in/out of traffic, are overloaded, and are rarely in good working order. Boda-bodas are often the vehicle of choice for criminal activities. The use of any public transportation (e.g. minibuses, vans, or motorbike taxis boda-bodas) is off-limits to U.S. Embassy personnel; avoid whenever possible. There is some public transit to rural communities by irregularly scheduled minibuses. Review OSAC’s report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Aviation/Airport Conditions As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in South Sudan, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of South Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Terrorism Threat The U.S. Department of State has assessed Juba as being a