South Sudan has agreed to admit a U.S. deportee initially misidentified as a South Sudanese national, now confirmed to be from Congo.
The man, Makula Kintu, was denied entry over the weekend after arriving in Juba under the false name Nimeri Garang, officials said.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayu el Mayen confirmed Tuesday that South Sudan would allow Kintu to enter the country despite not being a citizen.
“In the spirit of friendly relations with the United States, we have decided to grant Mr. Makula Kintu permission to enter,” Mayen said.
Juba International Airport has been instructed to receive Kintu by Wednesday, following a direct order from the South Sudanese government.
The decision comes amid strained tensions with Washington over deportation cooperation and allegations of non-compliance by Juba’s transitional government.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened to revoke visas for South Sudanese nationals and suspend all new entries.
Rubio accused South Sudan of obstructing efforts to deport its citizens, warning of broader diplomatic consequences if the issue persists.
South Sudan responded Monday by clarifying that the individual in question was not one of its nationals but a Congolese citizen using a false identity.
Officials emphasized the country’s ongoing commitment to assist in repatriating verified nationals facing removal from the United States.
The incident has spotlighted the fragile balance between international diplomacy, migration control, and national identity verification procedures.
It also raises broader questions about the treatment of deportees and the pressures small nations face under global immigration policies.
