By Matik Kueth
South Sudan has agreed to take in deportees from the United States, most of whom aren’t its citizens, while opening its doors to American investment in key natural resource sectors.
Tensions between the two nations reached a boiling point earlier this year when South Sudan refused to accept a deportee that U.S. officials claimed was South Sudanese.
The standoff prompted the U.S. to impose visa restrictions on South Sudanese nationals, straining an already delicate relationship.
Seeking to reset this dynamic, South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Monday Semaya K. Kumba made a high-level visit to Washington, D.C. earlier this month to repair the ties, address the visa ban, and pitch investment opportunities to the U.S. government and business leaders.
“I’m visiting the United States this time to also offer an opportunity to the United States government and the United States investors to come and invest in the Republic of South Sudan, with main focus in areas of minerals, oil and gas, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructural development, among others,” Amb. Kumba said after returning to Juba on Wednesday.
His itinerary was packed with meetings at the U.S. Department of State, Treasury, and major financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Notably, South Sudan agreed to accept eight individuals deported from the U.S., only one of whom holds South Sudanese nationality.
Despite domestic criticism, officials in Juba defended the move as a diplomatic gesture meant to demonstrate goodwill and uphold international cooperation.
At the same time, South Sudan is using its wealth in oil, minerals, agriculture, and tourism to entice American investors.
Kumba offered the U.S. government and private sector a chance to tap into the country’s untapped potential in infrastructure and energy development.
“This is about building a mutually beneficial partnership,” he noted, framing the dual offer, deportee cooperation, and resource access as a strategic way to rebuild trust and economic ties.
While the U.S. visa restrictions remain in place for now, the dialogue has resumed, and officials on both sides seem intent on moving forward.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored America’s continued commitment to South Sudan, referencing shared history and long-standing support during the country’s 14th Independence Day.
However, critics warn of ethical and legal implications in accepting non-citizens as deportees.
Yet, the government maintains that the decision is part of a larger strategy to realign international partnerships and avoid diplomatic isolation.