Juba, South Sudan, Feb 28, 2020 / 14:17 pm
After a newly formed unity government for South Sudan was sworn in last week, security concerns in the world's newest country remain high, posing challenges for Pope Francis' desired papal trip.
"Even with the national-level conflict right now under a ceasefire, there's a lot of violence around the country," a senior State Department official stationed in Juba said Feb. 26.
"It's still a dangerous place, but it's better than it had been during the open conflict," he said.
South Sudan remains among the 14 countries on the US State Department's Do Not Travel Level 4 advisory due to violent crime – including shootings, ambushes, assaults, robberies and kidnappings. The country continues to be one of the most dangerous places for humanitarian aid workers during the fragile peace process.