Kintu, who was in a group of South Sudanese deportees flown into Juba over the weekend, was rejected and sent back after authorities discovered he was not a citizen
By Ajah Jennifer and James Chatim
The government of South Sudan has granted asylum to the Congolese national Mr. Makula Kintu, who it previously denied entry at Juba International Airport upon arrival from the U.S
The Congolese national identified as Makula Kintu had been using a fraudulent South Sudanese identity under the name Nimeri Garang to enter and remain in the US but was refused by the South Sudan government when attempts of deportation were made.
Kintu, who was in a group of South Sudanese deportees flown into Juba over the weekend, was rejected and sent back after authorities discovered he was not a citizen.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, Mr. Makula Kintu would be granted permission to enter the country and the relevant authorities at the Juba International Airport have been asked to facilitate his arrival due today, April 9, 2025.
The foreign affairs ministry reassured the country’s commitment to supporting the return of verified South Sudanese nationals scheduled for deportation from the United States. According to the Ministry, the decision of the U.S. to terminate visas was a 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.
The US move to target all passport holders from South Sudan came off a bit rushed. This action comes since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, having campaigned on an anti-immigration platform, with the promise of “mass deportations.
Activist: Visa revocation shows diplomatic tiff
Meanwhile, the Executive Director for Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), Ter Manyang, said the recent visa revocation by the United States for all South Sudanese passport holders is a sign of diplomatic tension between the two states.
In an interview with The City Review on Monday, Manyang said the United States seems frustrated with South Sudan because it is not playing what it wanted in terms of peace implementation, respect for human rights and gender equality.
Ter urged the United States Government to reconsider the restriction, especially for ordinary citizens who are struggling to make their own future.
“The U.S. seems to be frustrated on South Sudan because South Sudan is not playing what the U.S. wanted from South Sudan in terms of peace, implementation, gender equality and violation of the situation of hostilities,” he said.
“I am an activist, but I would like to urge the U.S. Department of State to reconsider the restriction on the South Sudanese for the visa. I wish the U.S. should make a categorization. Maybe they will talk about the diplomatic passport and also the special passport. So that they will not make a generalization of all the citizens,” the activist said.
According to him, such restriction should have been applied only to those holding diplomatic and special passports.
Manyang hinted that such generalization for all the South Sudanese could hinder the effort of those who are struggling with their future especially the students.
“I am an activist, but I would like to urge the U.S. Department of State to reconsider the restriction on the South Sudanese for the visa. I wish the U.S. should make a categorization,” Executive Director for Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), Ter Manyang, said.