Man who triggered revocation of South Sudanese visas not our citizen- South Sudan

In a strange twist of affairs over the revocation of all existing visas issued to all South Sudanese passport holders by the US government, Africa’s newest nation has spoken out over the matter that caused a diplomatic tiff.

According to a statement released on Monday, April 7, 2025, by the South Sudan government through Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Apuk Ayuel Mayen, the incident was triggered by a United States deportee who was not permitted entry at Juba International Airport on April 5 and April 6, 2025.

South Sudan maintained that the individual was not a citizen of the country.

"Upon arrival, it was determined that the individual who presented a South Sudanese Travel Document under the name Nimeri Garang is NOT NIMERI GARANG (sic). Comprehensive verification processes confirmed that this individual is a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo, named Makula Kinsu," said the statement.

"In accordance with our immigration protocols, he was not admitted and was subsequently returned to the sending country for further processing."

The statement also cited the United States' announcement on April 5, 2025, regarding the immediate revocation of visas for South Sudanese passport holders.

"This decision was made as a consequence of what was described as the 'failure of South Sudan's Transitional Government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner," it says.

"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. The Government welcomes all its citizens, whether they are returning voluntarily or through deportation processes."

It added that records available to both governments indicate that Kintu, born on April 2, 1977, is a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo, not South Sudan.

According to information provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Kintu entered the United States on August 21, 2003, and voluntarily departed for the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009.

He re-entered the United States illegally on July 10, 2016, says South Sudan.

During his immigration interview at Juba International Airport, Kintu's statements further substantiated that he is not a citizen of South Sudan.

He stated that he hails from the Ema tribe of the Northern Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo and added that he was brought to South Sudan against his will.

Relevant video evidence of these proceedings has been shared with the U.S. Ambassador in Juba and the Department of State in Washington, D.C.

"Communications from the State Department through our Embassy in Washington, D.C., regarding the deportation of Nimeri Garang, born on April 4, 1967, for whom the travel document was issued, indicate that he is scheduled to arrive in Juba on May 13, 2025, via Egypt Air," expounded the spokeswoman.

“Our competent authorities are, therefore, awaiting his arrival.”

Africa's newest nation also highlighted that the South Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., had issued emergency travel documents for 21 out of the 23 individuals identified by U.S. authorities, with some successfully repatriated and admitted into South Sudan without issue.

Of the two individuals confirmed as non-South Sudanese nationals, one is a Congolese citizen (Makula Kintu), and the other is a Sudanese national.

"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," added the statement.

On Saturday, April 5, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed the transitional government of the African nation for a lack of “full cooperation” and accused South Sudan of “taking advantage” of Washington.

In a more detailed account on X, also on Saturday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau alleged that South Sudan had refused to take back one person presumed to be from the African country because officials there had determined him to be Congolese after he arrived in Juba.