By Philip Buda Ladu
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan has vehemently refuted rumors circulating on social media that the country has expelled the United States Ambassador.
In a press statement released on Saturday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Amb. Apuk Ayuel Mayen labeled these claims as “unfounded” and “entirely without merit.”
Amb. Ayuel explicitly clarified that “the Government of the Republic of South Sudan has neither expelled the United States Ambassador nor closed its Embassy in Washington, D.C.” as falsely claimed on Social media.
She emphasized that the U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan remains fully accredited and continues to have the full support of the South Sudanese government.
The foreign affairs spokesperson said in a move to underscore the commitment to bilateral relations, the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Monday Semaya Kumba, invited the U.S. Ambassador, H.E. Michael J. Adler, for a meeting earlier on Saturday.
According to Ayuel the discussions aimed to “explore avenues for further strengthening the enduring relationship between our two nations.”
Furthermore, the spokesperson reaffirmed that the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Washington, D.C., remains open and fully operational.
The foreign ministry expressed appreciation for the ongoing support of the U.S. government and reiterated its commitment to fostering strong and mutually beneficial diplomatic ties.
This strong refutation of false reports comes amidst heightened diplomatic tensions between Juba and Washington DC.
The friction arose earlier this month when South Sudan initially refused to accept a deportee from the U.S., arguing that the individual was a Congolese citizen using a South Sudanese passport.
While South Sudan later admitted the deportee, the United States has maintained a restriction on all visas issued to South Sudanese passport holders.
This revocation, triggered by the deportation incident, has drawn significant concern, particularly as many South Sudanese passport holders had been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the U.S. due to the country’s ongoing unstable political situation in the young East African nation.
The Ministry’s swift and clear statement aims to quell any misinformation and reaffirm the South Sudanese government’s commitment to maintaining diplomatic channels with the United States despite the current challenges.
The Saturday meeting between Minister Kumba and Ambassador Adler further signals an effort to engage directly and potentially resolve the issues that have led to the recent strain in relations.