A senior official in South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs ministry told Sudan Tribune that talks examining all possibilities, including some athletes, and fans choosing to remain in Paris after the games and decision to go to other European countries have been informing the focus of the discussions which have been talk advantage of this gesture by the authorities.

“Assurances have been given during several meetings held by the minister of youth and sports and the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation on the one hand and the ambassador of France on the other and assurances have been made that all our fans and players, at least they are carrying the passport of  French and other the European countries. Those who do not have these other passports apart from holding a passport of South Sudan will return after the games are over”, the official with direct knowledge of discussions said on Monday.

South Sudan’s minister of foreign affairs, Abdallah Mohammed Goch told Sudan Tribune he met and held discussions with the ambassador of the French on June 28 at his office and agreed the process could be expedited.

“The ambassador came to my office and we discussed the issue of the visa, not only for South Sudan but also for French nationals wishing to come to South Sudan for investment and exploratory opportunities, including agriculture, energy sector, and in other economic sectors. For us as the government, we have been welcoming European nationals, including the nationals of France, and issuing them visas on arrival. This arrangement has been there but we would like to strengthen it and develop cordial and mutual relations with other countries including France,” he explained.

Goch said his country is ready to grant temporary visas to other countries.

A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180 days to a country in the Schengen area. It was part of a treaty that led to the creation of Europe’s Schengen Area, in which internal border checks have largely been abolished.

The treaty was signed on 14 June 1985 by five of the 10 member states of the then European Economic Community and enacted a decade later, with all countries in the European Union (EU), except the U.K. and Ireland, joining over the coming years. Countries in Europe but outside the EU have also joined, including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. Britain has subsequently left the EU – meaning it is extremely unlikely to join Schengen in the foreseeable future.

The treaty is used by countries with special relations with the European Union and countries whose citizens are required to hold a visa when crossing its external borders. However, the arrangement has been exploited and abused by immigrants, causing some European Union countries like the United Kingdom to exit while others have imposed restrictions.

South Sudanese officials are asking French authorities to relax visa requirements for certain types of travelers to certain countries since it gives permits to diplomats, armed forces, refugees, and pupils on school tours. It allows some non-EU nationals to hold an airport transit visa when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in any of the Schengen states.

“We are in discussion with French authorities through their ambassador in South Sudan because fans, officials, and athletes will participate in the Olympic games in Paris and this will require a visa to be granted because an airport transit visa for citizens of countries outside the European Union is required when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in some of the Schengen countries. Yes, we know  There are categories of people who get exempt from the requirement to hold an airport transit visa under  Article 3(5) of the visa code. But those who do not qualify are the reason we are in discussion”, said Goch.

He explained that some players, athletes, fans, and government officials never had an opportunity to travel outside the country during their entire lives and have now been nominated and authorized to travel and participate in the race.

Signed by Luxembourg, France, Germany and Belgium, the agreement abolished border checks at the signatories’ common borders within the area, allowing individuals to travel freely. It gives the residents in border areas the freedom to cross borders away from fixed checkpoints and has harmonized visa policies. It permits citizens to stay for short stays of under 90 days since traveling from one country to another within the Schengen Area is done without border controls.

The Netherlands signed the original Schengen Agreement in 1985.

(ST)