South Sudanese citizens will not have to pay entry fees to East African nations, according to a top diplomat.

“The protocol that deals with visa and travel will begin in January next year. South Sudanese will pay the entry fee until January and after that they can be exempted” said Jimmy Deng, charge d’affaires of South Sudan Embassy in Kenya.

South Sudan was the sixth country to join the East African Community on March 2nd.

Deng said South Sudanese are suffering from paying entry visa fees to East Africa countries.

“Our people in Kenya are suffering from visa issue. They are being arrested by police because their visa has expired and not renewed" Deng said.