This follows move by the US government to revoke all visas for South Sudanese passport holders and blocking of new arrivals 

By James Chatim

South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation   has said it consistently maintains open communication and cooperation with U.S. authorities regarding immigration and deportation matters.

This comes after the United States accused South Sudan’s Transitional Government of failure to accept the return of its repatriated citizens.  

Speaking during a press conference in Juba on Monday April 7, 2025, the Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson, Apuk Ayuel Mayen said the individual at the centre of the deportation question presented a South Sudanese travel document and was confirmed after comprehensive verification processes is a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo

“We would like to clarify that the government of South Sudan has consistently maintained open communication and cooperation with U.S. authorities regarding immigration and deportation matters. The government welcomes all its citizens, whether they are returning voluntarily or through deportation processes. Records available to both governments clearly indicate that Mr. Makula Kintu is a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo, not South Sudan,” said Amb. Ayuel.

“According to information provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Kintu entered the United States on August 21st, 2003 and voluntarily departed for the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009 under file number A098150764. He re-entered the United States illegally on July 10th, 2016. During his immigration interview at Juba International Airport, Mr. Kintu’s statements further substantiated that he is not a citizen of South Sudan.”

“He stated that he hails from the Ema tribe of the northern Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo and added that he was brought to South Sudan against his will. Relevant video evidence of these proceedings has been shared with the U.S. Ambassador in Juba and the Department of State in Washington, D.C.,” Ayuel said, adding: “Communications from the State Department through our embassy in Washington, D.C. regarding the deportation of Nimeri Garang, for whom the travel document was issued, indicate that he is scheduled to arrive in Juba on May 13th, 2025 via Egypt Air. Our competent authorities are therefore awaiting his arrival.”

According to the ministry spokesperson, the government of South Sudan expressed regret for the circumstances that led to the situation, and would continue to consistently demonstrated goodwill and cooperation with the United States on immigration and deportation issues.

In this context, Ayuel stated, the South Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. issued emergency travel documents for 21 out of the 23 individuals identified by U.S. authorities, with some successfully repatriated and admitted into South Sudan without issue.

“Of the two individuals confirmed as non-South Sudanese nationals, one is a Congolese citizen, namely Mr. Makula Kintu, and the other is a Sudanese national. The government deeply regrets that despite this history of collaboration and partnership, South Sudan now faces a broad revocation of visas based on an isolated incident involving misrepresentation by an individual who is not a South Sudanese national,” she explained.

Mending ties

Meanwhile, in a move aimed at harmonizing the diplomatic ties following the suspension of U.S. visas for South Sudanese nationals after the deportation row, Hon. Ramadan Abdallah Goc, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, met with the U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael J. Adler.

The meeting, according to sources, aimed at harmonizing diplomatic concerns and to address the factors behind recent deportations by the United States of non-South Sudanese ci