DFAT says do not travel to South Sudan

Australians should not travel to the world’s newest nation, South Sudan, because of major security concerns, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says.

South Sudan formally declared its independence from the Muslim north overnight after decades of civil war in the north African nation.

“We advise Australians not to travel to South Sudan due to the extremely dangerous security situation, the risk of armed conflict, the high level of violent crime and the high threat of terrorist attack,” the department said on Sunday.

The government has committed $16 million to South Sudan to help one of the world’s poorest nations stand up.