In a surprising reversal, South Sudan has agreed to accept a man deported from the United States, aiming to diffuse a visa row between the two countries.
The move comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the revocation of US visas for all South Sudanese citizens, citing South Sudan’s refusal to accept its citizens being removed from the US.
The dispute began when South Sudan’s government claimed the deported individual was from the Democratic Republic of Congo, not South Sudan, but the US government argued that South Sudan’s embassy in Washington had certified the individual as a South Sudanese national.
South Sudan’s foreign ministry has now stated that it will allow the man to enter the country “in the spirit of friendly relations” and has instructed authorities at Juba International Airport to facilitate his arrival.
The ministry also expressed commitment to supporting the return of verified South Sudanese nationals scheduled for deportation from the US.
This development may ease tensions between the two countries, but concerns remain about the fragile peace deal in South Sudan, which was threatened by recent fighting and the arrest of First Vice-President Riek Machar.
The US had ordered non-emergency staff to leave South Sudan last month due to escalating violence.
