South Sudan’s government said on Tuesday, April 8, that it had decided to grant a citizen of DR Congo deported from the US permission to enter the country, reversing an earlier decision due to a visa row with Washington.
On Saturday, April 5, the US said it was revoking existing visas issued to all South Sudanese citizens over Juba’s refusal to accept the repatriation of its nationals and “taking advantage of the United States”.
At the root of the spat is Makula Kintu, a deportee from the US who South Sudanese authorities say is not from the country but from neighboring DR Congo.
The man was denied entry at Juba International Airport on April 5 and April 6.
Following the US visa revocation, South Sudan’s ministry of foreign affairs said the country decided to grant Kintu entry permission in “the spirit of the existing friendly relations between South Sudan and the United States”.
“In light of this decision, the government has instructed the relevant authorities at Juba International Airport to facilitate Mr Kintu’s arrival as early as tomorrow (April 9),” the ministry said in a statement.
“The government of the Republic of South Sudan remains committed to facilitating the return of verified South Sudanese nationals who are scheduled for deportation from the United States,” it added.
South Sudan has strong ties with the US, which is home to South Sudanese nationals granted temporary protected status by the Biden administration.
