South Sudan Agrees to Accept U.S. Deportee Amid Diplomatic Dispute
In an effort to resolve a diplomatic dispute with the United States, South Sudan has agreed to admit a man deported from the U.S., whom it previously declined entry, disputing his nationality.
The controversy began when U.S. authorities deported an individual they identified as a South Sudanese national. South Sudanese officials, however, contended that the man was actually from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and denied him entry. This refusal prompted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revoke visas for all South Sudanese passport holders and halt the issuance of new visas, citing South Sudan’s failure to accept its repatriated citizens.
In a statement released on Tuesday, South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry announced the decision to allow the deportee’s entry “in the spirit of the existing friendly relations” between the two countries. The ministry instructed authorities at Juba International Airport to facilitate his arrival, which could occur as early as Wednesday.
The individual in question was identified by South Sudanese officials as Makula Kintu, a national of the DRC’s North Kivu region. They asserted that U.S. records misidentified him as Nimeiri Garang, based on documents verified by South Sudan’s embassy in Washington.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau dismissed South Sudan’s explanation as “legally irrelevant,” emphasizing that the South Sudanese embassy in Washington had certified the individual as their national. He stated, “It is unacceptable and irresponsible for South Sudanese government officials to second guess the determination of their own embassy.”
This development occurs amid broader tensions between the U.S. and South Sudan. The U.S. has expressed concerns over South Sudan’s stability, particularly following the house arrest of First Vice-President Riek Machar, which threatens the fragile peace agreement established in 2018.
The U.S. State Department has indicated that it will review its visa restrictions once South Sudan demonstrates full cooperation in accepting its nationals slated for deportation.
