By Yiep Joseph
South Sudan government has admitted to a repatriation plan by the United States (US) government following pressure and a visa revocation order for its nationals.
In a statement released to the media on Tuesday, Apuk Ayuel, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, declared that the government has agreed to repatriate those being removed from the United States.
She added that this decision is part of the existing relations and cooperation between South Sudan and the United States.
Apuk revealed that a deportee South Sudan had previously refused entry at the airport would now be allowed into the country, as per the United States Immigration demand.
“In the spirit of the existing friendly relationship between South Sudan and the United States, the government of the Republic of South Sudan has decided to grant Mr. Makula Kintu permission to enter the country,” she said.
The government, however, directed the authorities at Juba International Airport, who had previously denied Mr. Kintu entrance to South Sudan, to allow him this time.
“In line with this decision, the government has instructed the relevant authorities at Juba International Airport to facilitate Mr. Kintu’s arrival as early as tomorrow,” she added.
Recently, the United States of America (USA) issued a drastic order revoking visas issued to all South Sudanese passport holders.
The statement issued by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that the decision was a response to the African nation’s refusal to accept its citizens who have been removed from the US.
“The United States is revoking visas for South Sudanese passport holders because the country’s transitional government has not accepted citizens who were expelled from the U.S.,” the statement partly read.
The US official expressed that the decision would be reviewed when the Transitional Government of National Unity responds to the demands.
However, the South Sudan government, in its response on Monday, protested the decision, citing that the USA’s decision was based on misrepresentation.
In a separate statement, a civil society activist called on the United States of America to reconsider the visa restriction on South Sudan, citing that it affects innocent South Sudanese.
Ter Manyang, the Executive Director for the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), expressed that the visa ban affected many South Sudanese who are not part of decision-making.
“As a human rights organization, we call upon the U.S. Department of State to reconsider its decision. Punishing innocent citizens for the wrongdoings of corrupt elites who exploit the country’s resources is unjust,” he said.
On March 8th, the US ordered all its non-emergency staff in South Sudan to leave as regional fighting broke out, threatening a fragile peace deal agreed in 2018.
South Sudanese in the US were previously granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows them to remain in the US for a set period of time, but it is due to expire by May 3rd.