South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The government on Monday voiced regret over last week’s decision by Washington to revoke all visas for South Sudanese nationals.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on Saturday issued a statement revoking visas to all South Sudanese over the government’s refusal to let in some of it’s citizens deported from the United States.
The move is part of broader efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to tighten immigration enforcement, including the deportation of individuals living in the U.S. without legal status.
“The government deeply regrets that despite this history of collaboration and partnership, South Sudan now faces a broad revocation of visas based on an isolated incident involving misrepresentation by an individual who is not a South Sudanese national,” said Apuk Ayuel Mayen, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a statement issued in Juba.
Ayuel explained that the incident leading to the cancellation of visas, involved the misrepresentation of an individual who is a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo impersonating Nimeri Garang from South Sudan.
She denied the claim made by the U.S. that the government allegedly refused to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner.
Ayuel said the government has been welcoming all its citizens, whether they are returning voluntarily or through deportation processes.
“We would like to clarify that the government of South Sudan has consistently maintained open communication and cooperation with U.S. authorities regarding immigration and deportation matters,” she said.
Ayuel noted that the information provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, revealed that the impersonator Mr. Kintu entered the United States on August 21st, 2003, and voluntarily departed for the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009 under file number A098150764 and re-entered the United States illegally on July 10th, 2016.
She said that during his immigration interview at Juba International Airport, Mr. Kintu’s statements further substantiated that he is not a citizen of South Sudan despite his claims of hailing from the Hema tribe of the Northern Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ayuel disclosed that Mr.Kintu was brought to South Sudan against his will.
She noted that the South Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., has issued emergency travel documents for 21 out of 23 individuals identified by U.S. authorities, with some successfully repatriated and admitted into South Sudan without issue.
Ayuel said of the two individuals, one is a Congolese citizen, namely Mr. Makula Kintu, and the other is a Sudanese national.
“South Sudan reaffirms its commitment to engaging constructively with the United States to ensure the proper verification and acceptance of bona fide South Sudanese nationals consistent with international standards and practices,” said Ayuel.
She said South Sudan values its strong partnership with the United States and appreciates the significant contributions made by the American government.
“The government remains steadfast in its commitment to resolving this matter through constructive dialogue and collaboration.”
Ayuel disclosed that the government is working closely with U.S. authorities to address this issue promptly, fairly, and in a mutually beneficial manner.
