South Sudan denies US deportee was its citizen

By Mevlut Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) – South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that the individual deported from the US and denied entry at Juba International Airport was not a South Sudanese citizen.

“Comprehensive verification processes confirmed that this individual (presenting as Nimeri Garang) is a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo, named Makula Kintu,” a ministry statement said.

The man, who used the name Nimeri Garang, was blocked from entering South Sudan over the weekend and returned to the US for further processing, the ministry said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Saturday that Washington would revoke all visas for South Sudanese passport holders and block new arrivals, accusing the transitional government in Juba of refusing to take back nationals expelled from the US.

“Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” adding that South Sudan was “taking advantage of the United States," he said.

Juba expressed “deep regret” over the decision, calling it a response to an “isolated incident involving misrepresentation” by an individual who was not a South Sudanese national.

The government cited its “history of collaboration and partnership” with Washington.

The ministry said South Sudan had cooperated with US immigration authorities by issuing emergency travel documents through its embassy in Washington for 21 out of 23 individuals identified for deportation. Two people were confirmed as non-South Sudanese: one Congolese national — Makula Kintu — and one Sudanese citizen.

“Records available to both governments clearly indicate that Mr. Makula Kintu, born on April 2, 1977, is a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo, not South Sudan,” the statement said.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to verifying and accepting bona fide South Sudanese citizens in line with international procedures.