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Amid escalating armed clashes and rising security risks, the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan has advised Chinese nationals to evacuate as soon as possible via commercial flights. In case of emergencies, they are advised to contact the embassy promptly, the embassy said on Thursday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned with the escalating situation in South Sudan, warning that the country is on the brink of civil war, his spokesman said on Thursday. The statement came following reports of the house arrest of South Sudanese First Vice President Riek Machar in the capital of Juba on Wednesday night, Xinhua reported.

Riek Machar has been placed under house arrest, prompting a warning from the UN that the country is at risk of relapsing into widespread conflict, the Guardian reported.

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In opposition have intensified clashes this week on the outskirts of Juba, with both sides accusing each other of initiating the fighting, according to Xinhua.

Britain on Thursday advised its citizens in South Sudan to leave the country following rising tensions, according to Reuters. Malaysians in South Sudan have been urged to prioritize their safety, and leave the country immediately as risks escalate and while commercial flights remain available, Malay Mail reported.

The Trump administration is considering issuing travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters, the Guardian reported on March 15. The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. In the second group, five countries –including South Sudan – would face partial suspensions that would affect tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions, according to the Guardian.

Global Times