The government of South Sudan has firmly denied reports claiming it expelled the United States Ambassador or ordered the closure of the US Embassy in Juba, calling such allegations “entirely without merit.”
In a statement released on April 8, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayuel Mayen dismissed the rumors as “misinformation circulating on social media,” affirming that no such decision had been made by any official source within the South Sudanese government.
“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,” Mayen clarified, reaffirming that US Ambassador Michael J. Adler remains fully accredited and continues to enjoy the government’s support.
The diplomatic tension stems from a recent immigration dispute involving the mistaken deportation of Congolese national Makula Kintu to South Sudan. Reports had suggested that South Sudan’s initial refusal to accept Kintu, coupled with its criticism of a US decision to revoke visas for South Sudanese nationals, had escalated into a diplomatic standoff.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had announced the visa restrictions on April 5, citing South Sudan’s refusal to cooperate with deportation procedures as the basis for the measure. Rubio further stated that South Sudanese citizens would be denied entry at US ports of entry until the issue was resolved.
However, South Sudan’s foreign ministry later clarified that the individual in question had been misidentified as South Sudanese and emphasized that the government regretted the blanket visa revocation over what it described as an “isolated incident.” The ministry confirmed that Kintu was returned to the sending country for further processing.
In a diplomatic gesture, South Sudan eventually agreed to allow Kintu entry, citing the country’s “friendly relations” with the United States. Authorities at Juba International Airport were instructed to facilitate his arrival by April 9.
Reaffirming its commitment to international cooperation, the foreign ministry noted that South Sudan remains willing to accept verified nationals facing deportation and continues to value its relationship with the United States.
“Our embassy in Washington remains open and operational,” Mayen added, stressing South Sudan’s intent to maintain strong and mutually respectful diplomatic ties.
