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Duke Restricts Travel to South Sudan

Officials monitoring situation in newly independent country

Duke University is
restricting travel to the newly created Republic of South Sudan because of
unsettled conditions in the area following elections that led to its
independence.

South Sudan became an
independent state on July 9 and with border areas and the government in
transition, the Duke International
Travel Oversight Committee
(ITOC) has voted to restrict travel
during this time.

The region had been on
Duke's Restricted
Travel List
prior to independence when it was part of
Sudan.  Duke's presence in the
region is currently small – primarily several collaborations involving Duke
Divinity graduate students – but faculty members have expressed hopes for expanding
ties with the new country, including a possible DukeEngage course.

Undergraduates must
petition and be granted a waiver to use university funds for travel or
participate in programs in South Sudan.  Undergraduates who receive a
travel waiver must still register their travel and sign a High Risk Travel
Waiver/Release Form prior to completing their travel plans.  

Graduate, professional
and post-docs do not need to petition for a waiver of the restriction, but they
are required to register their
travel and provide a High Risk Travel Waiver/Release Form prior to
departure.  Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to register their
travel plans, and all travelers should carry their Duke-ISOS membership card
while traveling abroad.

Duke's International
Travel Oversight Committee
will continue to monitor the situation in South
Sudan by seeking guidance from its travel insurance provider, consulting with
various governmental warnings and advisories, and communicating with faculty/staff
that travel to the country during this time of transition.  This
restriction will be reviewed periodically and if a change is warranted it can
be modified at any time.

The country of North
Sudan continues to have a full-country restriction in place as well as federal Office
of Export Controls sanctions.  Travelers must check with the Office of
Export Controls when considering travel to North Sudan. 

The Duke International
Travel Policy for restricted countries is the same as for South Sudan.

For more information, contact Christy Michels at
684-2910 or email christy.parrish@duke.edu.