South Sudan officially apologizes, mobilizes efforts to mend relations with USA

 

In a move aimed at calming recent diplomatic tensions, South Sudan has announced the dispatch of a high-level delegation to the United States of America to discuss the repatriation of approximately 137 of its citizens deported from the US.

 

This follows an unprecedented diplomatic crisis sparked by the deportation of an alleged South Sudanese national.

 

 

The office of South Sudan’s Second Vice President, Benjamin Bol Mel, stated that the government bears “full responsibility for dealing with this issue with the necessary seriousness and speed.” The delegation includes Finance Minister Marial Dongren Atar, Central Bank Governor Johnny Ohisa Damien, and Civil Registry Director Elia Costa Faustino.

 

 

 

The delegation will cooperate closely with the US State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to ensure a “legal, orderly, and dignified repatriation process.”

 

 

The Spark of the Crisis

 

 

The crisis began on April 6, when Washington announced its intention to revoke the visas of a number of South Sudanese passport holders due to the Juba government’s refusal to accept some of the deportees from the US.

 

 

One of them, Nimeri Garang, had been deported from the United States, but authorities at Juba airport initially refused to allow him entry, claiming his documents were forged and that he was actually a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo named Makola Kintu.

 

 

This incident sparked a diplomatic dispute between the two countries, but South Sudan later reversed its refusal and allowed Kintu to enter, explaining that the decision was made in the context of “existing friendly relations” with Washington.

 

 

Domestic Repercussions of the Crisis

 

 

The repercussions of the incident were not limited to external matters; they also impacted South Sudan’s domestic political scene.

 

 

On April 10, President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed Foreign Minister Ramadan Abdallah Gok, appointing his former deputy, Monday Simia Kumba, in his place.

 

 

This move was seen as an attempt to shift political responsibility for the diplomatic confusion and to affirm Juba’s commitment to improving the performance of its external institutions.

 

 

Official Apology and Reaffirmation of Relations

 

 

The South Sudanese Vice President’s statement described the incident as “unfortunate and isolated,” confirming that internal measures have been taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

 

 

The government also officially apologized to the United States for “any inconvenience the situation may have caused,” expressing its desire to resolve the issue “in a spirit of cooperation.”

 

 

In a notable move, Juba expressed its appreciation to US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what it described as “their continued commitment to implementing US immigration policy.”

 

 

The statement affirmed President Salva Kiir’s support for continuing “warm, constructive, and positive” bilateral relations with the United States, given the shared interests between the two countries, particularly with regard to strategic resources vital to both economies and security.