WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that the United States was revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, accusing the African nation's government of 鈥渢aking advantage of the United States.鈥
鈥淓very country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,鈥 Rubio said in a statement, adding that 鈥淪outh Sudan鈥檚 transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle."
Besides revoking visas, Rubio said the U.S. would "prevent further issuance to prevent entry into the United States by South Sudanese passport holders.鈥
South Sudan鈥檚 political landscape is fragile and recent violence between government troops and armed opposition groups has escalated tensions.
Last week, United Nations urged regional and international leaders to prevent South Sudan from falling 鈥渙ver the abyss鈥 into .
Guterres warned that the world鈥檚 newest and one of its poorest countries is facing 鈥渁 security emergency鈥 with intensifying clashes and a 鈥減olitical upheaval鈥 culminating with last week鈥檚 arrest by the government of First Vice President Riek Machar.
