South Sudan denies expelling US ambassador over visa tiff

South Sudan President Salva Kiir (BBC/AGENCY)

The government of South Sudan has denied expelling the United States Ambassador or ordering the closure of the US Embassy in Juba.

A statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayuel Mayen says the claims are unfounded, terming them "misinformation circulating on social media".

“These allegations did not originate from any official source within the government and are entirely without merit,” Mayen said.

"Contrary to these unfounded claims, the government of the Republic of South Sudan has neither expelled the United States ambassador nor closed its embassy in Washington DC," she emphasised.

Reports had indicated that South Sudan had closed its embassy in Washington DC and ordered closure of US embassy in Juba following a diplomatic dispute over the mistaken deportation of a Congolese national to the country.

South Sudan had initially declined to accept the deportee and criticised the revokation of US visas for all its nationals folllowing the misunderstanding.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the visa measure on Saturday, April 5, saying it was a response to South Sudan's refusal to accept the return of its citizens being removed from the US.

In his statement, Rubio said that the US would also block any arriving citizens of South Sudan, the world's newest country, at US ports of entry.

"We will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation," he added.

But on April 8, South Sudan's foreign ministry said the move was based on a case involving someone who had been incorrectly identified as South Sudanese.

The ministry said it "deeply regrets" the blanket measure against all of the country's citizens based on "an isolated incident involving misrepresentation by an individual who is not a South Sudanese national".

It added that the individual was "returned to the sending country for further processing".

But in a twist, South Sudan said it had agreed to admit the deporteee into the country, citing "existing friendly relations between South Sudan and the United States" for the change of heart.

"The Government of the Republic of South Sudan has decided to grant Mr Makula Kintu permission to enter the country. In light of this decision, the government has instructed the relevant authorities at Juba International Airport to facilitate Mr Kintu's arrival as early as tomorrow (April 9)," the ministry said in a statement.

Kintu was denied entry into South Sudan at Juba International Airport on April 5 and April 6, 2025.

His deportation followed President Donald Trump's immigration policy to remove unlawful migrants from the US.

In its statement indicating adherence to the deportation order, South Sudan's foreign ministry said: "The Government of the Republic of South Sudan remains committed to facilitating the return of verified South Sudanese nationals who are scheduled for deportation from the United States".

In dismissing his alleged expulsion, Mayen said US Ambassador to Juba Michael J. Adler remains fully accredited and continues to have the South Sudanese government’s support.

The spokesperson further confirmed that South Sudan’s embassy in Washington remains open and operational.

“We appreciate the ongoing support of the US government and remain committed to fostering strong and mutually beneficial diplomatic ties,” she said.

Source: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2025-04-13-south-sudan-denies-expelling-us-ambassador