Kenyans And South Sudanese Won’t Need Visas To Travel

South Sudanese traveling to Kenya will be able to enter for free, as long as they have a valid passport and meet other health conditions for travelers. Similarly, Kenyans will be free to travel to South Sudan without a visa requirement.

The announcement came after Kenya and South Sudan waived visas and work permits for their citizens, showing their resolve to mend ties. The agreement came days after President Salvar Kiir accused President Uhuru of siding with rebels.

“Premised on the principle of reciprocity, the Republic of South Sudan has also waived visa requirements for Kenyans wishing to visit their country,” Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement read in part.

During the 21st ordinary summit of the heads of states of countries in the East African Community, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that his country will remove all visa restrictions for South Sudanese citizens on the basis of reciprocity as requested by President Salva Kiir to allow free movement of people in the region.

The ministry’s Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau said the move demonstrates the strong partnership and cooperation between the two countries.

“Further, in line with Article 10 of the EAC Common Market Protocol, the Workers of the two Partner States will be allowed to accept employment within the territory of each other,” the Foreign Office noted.

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South Sudan joined the EAC in 2016 but had lagged behind in adopting crucial protocols of the Community including the Customs Union and the Common Market Protocol, which allow harmonization of levies, exemption of certain taxes on produces of the region, and visa-less movement in the region.

The relationship between the two countries has not been a good one despite the fact that Kenya is home to hundreds of thousands of refugees from South Sudan.