Gay men and lesbians in South Sudan: real risks and protection

The text cited by the FCDO in October 2026

The FCDO writes that sexual activity between men is illegal in South Sudan and punishable by a prison sentence of up to 14 years. According to the same source, relations between people of the same sex are not culturally accepted there.

Relations between women: the sources are silent

The British page explicitly refers to men. Our sources do not specify the legal situation of relations between women in South Sudan, and this gap does not mean any protection: the social rejection described by the FCDO concerns all same-sex relations.

Discrimination and violence reported by London

The FCDO warns that LGBT+ travellers in South Sudan face discrimination and violence. This risk comes on top of the general British advice, which advises against all travel to the country because of armed violence and crime.

No recognition of couples in Juba

Marriage certificates there are issued only by churches and mosques, and relations between men are criminalised: no documented framework recognises same-sex couples. Do not count on recognition of a union concluded abroad.

Entrapment through South Sudanese apps

The FCDO describes, in some countries, entrapment campaigns targeting LGBT+ people through popular dating apps. Washington adds that police officers sometimes create fake profiles. In South Sudan, treat every new contact as unverified.

Blackmail targeting South Sudanese LGBT people

A malicious contact may threaten to reveal someone's orientation to their family, employer or the South Sudanese police. Do not pay, as nothing guarantees that the threats will stop. Keep screenshots, block the account and talk to someone you trust.

What a profile must never show in Juba

No photo showing your face, a tattoo or a recognisable place in Juba. No full name, no employer, location services switched off. Regularly delete sensitive conversations and lock your phone, because a seized device exposes all your contacts.

Taimi, an app to handle with care

Taimi presents itself as an inclusive app for the whole LGBTQ+ spectrum, restricted to users over 18 and free in its basic version. No app, however, escapes South Sudanese criminal law or the fake profiles reported by the American authorities.

A trusted contact before any meeting

Before seeing someone, give a reliable friend the displayed name, the place and the time, and agree on a safety message to send when you leave. Choose a public place, with no visible display of affection, and make sure you have transport.

LGBT foreigners passing through South Sudan

For its citizens passing through Juba, Washington recommends free enrolment in the STEP programme and, if arrested, asking for the embassy to be notified. British consular services undertake not to judge LGBT+ people. Write these contact details down on paper too.

Family expectations and heterosexual marriage

Where same-sex relations are not culturally accepted, the expectation of a heterosexual marriage can weigh heavily. The religious framework of these unions is described in our page on straight couples in South Sudan, to help understand the possible pressures.

Comparing with Kenya before crossing the border

The legal framework changes from one East African country to another; check it before any trip, for example with the gay and lesbian page for Kenya. Marriage, divorce and general safety are covered in our South Sudan profile.

LGBT sources and contacts for South Sudan

• FCDO, sécurité au Soudan du Sud: Source of the legal status: relations between men illegal, up to 14 years in prison, risks of discrimination and violence.
• FCDO, conseils aux voyageurs LGBT: British page on entrapment through apps, affection in public and non-judgemental consular help.
• Département d'État, voyageurs gays et lesbiennes: Warns against fake police profiles, surveillance of meeting places and overly insistent new friends.
• Taimi: LGBTQ+ app restricted to users aged 18 and over, free in its basic version, to be used with great caution.

Protective measures for an LGBT person in South Sudan

1. Use a pseudonym and photos with no face or identifiable place on any dating app.
2. Switch off location services, lock your phone and regularly delete sensitive exchanges.
3. Check each contact at length, by video call if possible, before considering a meeting.
4. Give a trusted person the displayed name, the place and the time of any date.
5. Keep your embassy's contact details and, for Americans, enrol in the STEP programme.
6. In case of blackmail, pay nothing, keep the evidence and cut off contact immediately.

LGBT legal status in South Sudan

Safety kit for an LGBT traveller in South Sudan

• Passport and a copy kept separately
• Your embassy's contact details written on paper
• Number of a trusted person informed of your movements
• Travel insurance valid for the country
• STEP enrolment confirmation for Americans

Careless moves for LGBT people to avoid in South Sudan

• Sending identifiable or intimate photos to a recent contact, who can use them for blackmail.
• Accepting a first date in a private place suggested by a stranger met on an app.
• Paying a blackmailer in the hope of ending the threats, which offers no guarantee at all.
• Believing that the absence of any mention of women in the law cited by the FCDO keeps them safe from risk.
• Showing affection in public, when the FCDO stresses the cultural rejection of same-sex relations.

Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueRencontres.com does not arrange meetings and never asks for money: never transfer money to someone you know only online.