South Sudan diplomatic officials have confirmed that their country’s embassy in Nairobi has been shut down after the government failed to pay rent for several months.
The closure followed repeated delays in settling arrears, leaving embassy operations at a standstill.
Embassy Locked After Months of Rent Arrears
Speaking to a local media outlet anonymously on Saturday, November 8, several embassy staff members revealed that the landlord locked the premises on Friday.
“The landlord came on Friday and locked the embassy buildings. So, the embassy will remain closed until the government in Juba intervenes,” one staff member stated.
“The embassy has been unable to pay rent for nearly a year, and the monthly rent is about 1.4 million ($9,000),” another official added.
South Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya, Anthony Louis Kon, is currently in Juba, awaiting direction from the government.
South Sudan Embassy Calls for Intervention from Civil Society
Reacting to the incident, a South Sudanese civil society leader appealed to the Office of the President to take immediate action following the closure of the embassy.
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Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), described the development as “disturbing, discouraging, and embarrassing,” noting that it comes at a time when the country’s political uncertainty demands active regional diplomacy.
“The status of our embassy’s rental fee is alarming. Kenya is a strategic country for South Sudan, and maintaining a functional and influential diplomatic presence there is critical,” Yakani emphasised.
He urged President Salva Kiir and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the matter promptly and ensure the embassy resumes its operations.
Ministry’s Cost-Cutting Measures
According to reports, Apuk Ayuel, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, could not be reached for comment.
However, in September, the ministry announced plans to reduce staff numbers in embassies and consulates worldwide to lower operational expenses.
The decision followed a directive from President Kiir aimed at easing the financial strain on the country’s foreign missions.
“This is an internal administrative procedure,” Ayuel said at the time.
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“We were directed by His Excellency the President to reduce the financial obligations of our foreign missions, and the ministry is working out how to do that and will begin implementing the downsizing plan.”
South Sudan, which relies on oil for more than 90 per cent of its national revenue, continues to face severe financial constraints.
The country has struggled to recover from prolonged civil conflict, widespread corruption, and weak governance structures
The ongoing economic crisis has left the government short of funds, with many South Sudanese diplomats across the globe reportedly going for months without receiving their salaries.
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