U.S. Embassy Juba to Host Virtual Townhall Meeting on Thursday, December 11, 2025

The United States Embassy in Juba has issued a fresh call to all adult American citizens currently residing in or visiting South Sudan, emphasizing that their safety and uninterrupted access to accurate, timely information remain the Embassy’s highest priorities in one of the world’s most complex operating environments.

To that end, the Embassy is pleased to announce its next monthly Virtual Townhall Meeting, scheduled for:

📅 Thursday, December 11, 2025
🕒 3:00 p.m. South Sudan local time (EAT)
📍 Online via secure video-conference platform (registration required; link provided only to confirmed participants)

Why These Townhalls Matter More Than Ever

South Sudan continues to face a fluid security environment. Inter-communal violence, armed group activity outside major towns, periodic road ambushes, widespread crime in urban areas, and the ever-present risk of sudden political or military developments make reliable, direct communication between the Embassy and the American community indispensable.

The monthly Virtual Townhall has quickly become the cornerstone of that communication. Unlike emailed Security Alerts or the STEP notification system (which remain critical for urgent warnings), the Townhall gives U.S. citizens the rare chance to speak face-to-face—albeit virtually—with the very officials who coordinate evacuations, process passports, visit detained Americans, liaise with local authorities, and track evolving threats on the ground.

What You Can Expect on December 11

1. Consular Services Update

• Current processing times for passports (adult renewals, children’s passports, and CRBAs)
• Notarial services and the new online appointment system
• Voting from abroad: Status of ballot delivery and Frequently Asked Questions for the 2026 mid-terms and future elections
• Tips for documenting U.S. citizen children born in South Sudan

1. Personal Safety and Security Briefing

• Latest Embassy analysis of crime trends in Juba, Bor, Wau, Malakal, and along major supply routes
• Residential security: What works and what doesn’t in the current environment
• Medical evacuation options and insurance considerations
• Kidnap-for-ransom threat assessment and mitigation steps private citizens can take

1. Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Response

• How the Embassy’s Warden Network functions and how you can become a warden or stay connected to one
• The “In Case of Crisis” app and why every American household should download it now
• Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) myths vs. reality: What the Embassy can—and cannot—do if the security situation collapses
• Contingency planning for families with children, elderly members, or persons with medical conditions

1. Open Microphone Session
   The final 30–40 minutes are reserved exclusively for your questions. No topic is off-limits (within classification limits). Past townhalls have covered everything from pet relocation during evacuations to the reliability of local internet providers during curfews.

Who Should Attend

• Long-term residents (NGO, UN, diplomatic, missionary, business)
• Dual-national families navigating citizenship and documentation issues
• Recent arrivals still establishing housing, schools, and medical care
• Anyone considering an extension of stay or departure planning
• U.S. citizens outside Juba who rarely have direct access to Embassy personnel

How to Register

Because this is a closed session limited to verified adult U.S. citizens, pre-registration is mandatory.

Send an email to: JubaACS@state.gov
Subject line: “December 11 Virtual Townhall Registration”

Please include in the body of your email:

• Full name as it appears on your U.S. passport
• Passport number (last four digits only)
• Current city/location in South Sudan
• Contact phone number (preferably WhatsApp-enabled)
• Any specific topics or questions you would like addressed

The Consular Section will confirm your eligibility and send the secure connection link no later than 48 hours before the event.

A Brief History of the Program

The Virtual Townhall series began in earnest during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person gatherings became impossible. Rather than let the communication gap widen, the Embassy pivoted to monthly online sessions. What started as an emergency measure has now become an institution—one that many private American citizens say is the single most valuable service the Embassy provides outside of life-saving emergency assistance.

Attendance has steadily grown from fewer than 30 participants in early 2021 to regularly more than 200 households in 2025, reflecting both the increasing American footprint in South Sudan and the community’s appreciation for direct, unfiltered dialogue.

A Message from the Consul

In last month’s session, Chief of Consular Services Sarah Whitlock reminded everyone:
“We may be a small mission, but there is no ocean wide enough or security situation serious enough to separate us from our responsibility to you. These townhalls are our promise that you will never be out of sight or out of mind.”

Mark Your Calendar

Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. is not just another Zoom meeting. For many American families spread across this vast and challenging country, it is the one hour each month when they can look their government in the eye and know, without question, that they have not been forgotten.

Register today. Bring your questions. And if you know another U.S. citizen in South Sudan who may have fallen off the Embassy’s radar, please forward this announcement.

The Embassy stands ready to listen—and to act—on your behalf.

See you online on December 11.

American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy Juba, Republic of South Sudan

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